Above: This HoJo's at 1546 Broadway (closed in the late 1980's) was located almost directly across the street from the 1546 Broadway HoJo's that closed in 2005.
Above: The fate of the HoJo's at 1546 Broadway is revealed in this picture from 1987.
Another Closed HoJo Location
On Broadway
HoJo's In Chanin Building,
East 42nd Steet (southwest corner of Lexingtion Ave).
HoJo's Was Located Here/Chanin Building
Picture of Chanin Taken from Chrysler Building
Former HoJo's, later Houlihan's, now clothing store where HoJo's was located.
HoJo's Was Located Here/Chanin Building
Above: The 56 story buff brick and terra cotta I. Chanin Building, built by architect Irwin Chanin between 1927 and 1929, featured a Howard Johnson's Restaurant which was owned by Seymour Ellis, on the first floor (the space later became Houlihan's Restaurant, but is now occupied by a clothing store).
OBITUARY OF SEYMOUR ELLIS,
OWNER OF CHANIN BUILDING HOJO'S RESTAURANT
Seymour Ellis, 71, a Retired Restaurateur
Published: June 8, 1988
Seymour Ellis, a retired New York restaurateur, died of heart failure May 25 at his retirement home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. He was 71 years old and had lived for many years in Stamford, Conn. Seymour Ellis, a retired New York restaurateur, died of heart failure May 25 at his retirement home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. He was 71 years old and had lived for many years in Stamford, Conn. Mr. Ellis, a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Harvard Business School, served as a Navy lieutenant in World War II. Before entering the restaurant business he was advertising manager of Philip Morris Inc., of which his father, Rubin Morris Ellis, was a co-founder.
At one time, Mr. Morris owned six Manhattan restaurants, including Manny Wolf's Steak House, Harvey's Seafood House and The Old Garden. His Howard Johnson in the Chanin building on 42d Street, one of three Howard Johnson restaurants he operated in New York City, was the largest in the chain.
Surviving are his wife, the former Helen Rockett; a son, John, of Rancho Santa Fe; two daughters, Helene, of White Rock, British Columbia, and Janice Ellis-Dick of Seattle, and a sister, Helen Prouty of Hamden, Conn.
HoJo's at 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue in New York City.
By: Laura Ruffalo.
The HoJo's was at the location of what is now the front entry of Citigroup center. To build Citigroup, HoJo's building was torn down as was a 1904 Gothic Church, St. Peter's which was in the same block but on the s.e. corner of Lexington at 54th Street. After demolishing the church a brand new, modern St. Peter's church was built as part of an agreement with Citibank. Regrettably, Howard Johnson's as well as all other businesses in the building were not. The 53rd Street side of HoJo's was about 3 times the length of the Lexington Avenue side, so unfortunately since this photo was taken of the Lexington side, most of the Howard Johnson's is not in the picture. Therefore it would be great to come across a picture of the front of the building!
This page is in no way connected to or represented in any way by Wyndham Worldwide, owner of the "Howard Johnson" brand.
The name "HoJoLand,"
is Copyright 2001-2020, by W.L. Mann.
All Rights Reserved.
(New York, NY) There is no doubt that Howard Johnson's Restaurant's have had a long and storied presence in New York City. "The Big Apple" once boasted having nearly ten HoJo Restaurants serving "comfort food" to hungry New Yorkers. Over time, that number dwindled to one at 46th Street and Broadway. The 46th Street HoJo's was there for forty-six years (1959-2005), well beyond anyone's wildest guess as to how long the "grand old lady" would hang on. In this special HoJoLand.com feature, we highlight some of the great HoJo's Restaurants that were a part of everyday New York City. Enjoy!
