Despite facing countless obstacles and trying nearly a dozen failed spin-offs and sub-brands, Howard Brennan Johnson led the company from $200 million to $650 million in revenues, grew the number of restaurants by 25%, and grew the number of motels by more than 40%. This ensured rock-solid food consistency and importantly, guaranteed additional sales for Howard Johnsons beyond the franchise fees. Highly recommended. Franey and Ppin were plucked from New York Citys ritzy Le Pavillion to help build the Howard Johnsons menu. The first west-coast restaurant was opened near Los Angeles in 1948. Today's Highlight in History: On March 1, 1974, seven people, including former Nixon White House aides H.R. These smaller Howard Johnsons still had the orange roof, but they eschewed a full menu and waitress service for a select menu of re-heated items sold in disposable containers that customers served themselves. This was dangerously exposed after the oil crisis of 1973. The splitting of Howard Johnson by Marriott and PMI ultimately caused irreparable franchise attrition. It was discovered in 1998 that CUC had inflated its profits for years the fraud was massive and led to investors losing $19 billion. In 1996 the owners formed Howard Johnson Acquisition Corporation and successfully negotiated the rights from HFS to maintain and support the franchised Howard Johnson motor lodges. The Howard Johnson Express Inn(aka HoJo Lite) was geared toward business and leisure travelers looking for lower-price accommodations without full-service restaurants. He realized the turnpike offered a relatively captive audience of long-commute drivers who would need a rest but were reluctant to leave the highway. Death certificates represent one of the key primary sources for family information, typically being issued within days of a death and having many details about a persons' life. The enormous cost to operate was one of the reasonsmany of Johnsons restaurants closed leading up to the war. By 1979 the Host of the Highways had become the largest hospitality company in America, with more than 1,000 restaurants and 500 motor lodges. Johnson smartly delegated important tasks to professionals. John Russo. FAI was temporarily successful in staying the Howard Johnsons execution, but it did not have the resources to expand locations or revamp the brand. Ironically his chain of motor lodges was an important part of the early success of the Interstate System, which had federal legislation written specifically to prohibit service plazas on the new highways. By. Only three were built, and within five years the HoJo Junctions were converted into regular Howard Johnsons restaurants. BECKY BRENNAN OBITUARY. Initially the company was allowed to continue operating autonomously, and Bud remained involved alongside Imperial executives in running the hospitality chain. The lawsuit added oversight, controls, and changed the landscape of franchising. Eligible students are listed first by grade . In 1959, Howard Johnson stepped down as head of the company and his son, Howard Brennan "Bud" Johnson, formally took over. Howard Brennans different management style and tight-fisted control of the balance sheet was not always popular. There is something I have to mention, about two hours ago I found the only obituary I have ever seen for Howard Leslie Brennan, very short. Once connected guests could immediately discuss accommodations, prices, arrival times, and handle special arrangements in advance of arrival. HoJos were being run with fewer employees which resulted in worse service. The orange roof is symbolic. The company also owned 17 cold storage, manufacturing, and processing plants in 11 states, as well as ten Red Coach Grill Restaurants, an upscale specialized chain that Howard D. founded in 1938. There was a stale menu and a lack of vision and capital reinvestment. Jan Howard Marriotts plan to eliminate and convert all of the Howard Johnsons restaurants was met with resistance from many of the franchisees, who had much invested in the Howard Johnson brand and (among other things) did not want to incur the expense of a new brand remodel. An April 1966 news article offered an innocent glimpse into the relationship between Howard Brennan Johnson and his son, Howard the third: Howard Brennan will be a very disappointed man if [his 7 year-old son] Howard Bates doesnt become president of the Howard Johnson Company by the year 2000. - Howard D. Johnson Howard was born on February 2, 1897 in Boston, Mass. LaRock re-opened the Howard Johnsons restaurant on a seasonal basis in January 2015, briefly increasing the number of open Howard Johnson restaurants back to three. A doctor happened to see him fall and immediately started CPR. The company increased its discontinuation of struggling franchises while setting strict property upgrade guidelines that alienated many of the hotel operators. His large pre-war stock of sugar and cream were valuable to the armed forces, where these supplies were strictly rationed. I looked at the profile of earnings and considered the companys assets, and I saw that, notwithstanding the perception of the public, operates to the standards of the other Howard Johnsons restaurants and it was done at our sole expense, , no advertising support, and no approved suppliers of the Howard Johnsons product. By 1953 the company had perfected large-scale commissary freezing, which freed restaurants tofocus on the food preparation. Howard spent fifteen years working for the company, eventually becoming its top salesperson. He was raised in Belmont and was a graduate of Belmont High School. Once the senior patrons move on, he feared there would be no replacement of the customers. He wanted to expand the company . Today Ground Round still exists, although it is no longer associated with Howard Johnsons and now hosts customers in a more upscale format (no more clowns or peanuts). Then in 1985 it spent $235 million to acquire 125 Howard Johnson Motor Lodges from Marriott. In 1959, Howard Deering Johnson, who had founded and managed the company since 1925, turned control over to his son, then 26-year-old Howard Brennan Johnson. There is an awful lot of volume between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. It didnt surprise me that after Howard D. Johnsons death in 1972, his organization lost its raison detre. Howard Deering Johnson founded the company in 1925 in Quincy. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Janice Howard Johnson to pay them a last tribute. She was born on July 2, 1956 in New Orleans, LA, and was a longtime resident of Gretna, LA. Howard Johnsons was the king of the road. Pictured, from left, Josie Wang, Toby Izenberg,Emma Kay, and Emily Kim. Two former standout Lacey Township High School wrestlers advanced to their respective national tournaments this weekend. He knew the value in travelers confidence; people who knew what to expect along the way might be encouraged to travel, which could lead to more lodge and restaurant visits. He used only the highest quality meats grilled in a creamy butter, and for buns he used lightly buttered and toasted fresh rolls. Howard Johnson could make a tuba sing. This meant greater consistency and no complex ingredient lists or need for a formal chef, which in turn saved restaurant operators significant money. By the end of that year, FAI owned about 85 of the 110 remaining Howard Johnsons restaurants. The Howard Johnsons Rapid Reservation Service (RRS) was a fast, direct method of making instant long distance room reservations from one location to another at no cost to the customer. Obituary Headlines, View current celebrity deaths on Legacy.com From Dec. 4, 2020 onward, our daily celebrity news obituaries can be found at Legacy.com. When Howard Brennan Johnson became president in 1959, he wanted one thing. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. Americans associated the ubiquitous orange roof with good times with family and vacations. Published: 3/3/2023 4:08:23 PM. When the companys crown jewel Times Square location closed in July of 2005, there were fewer than eight surviving Howard Johnsons Restaurants. Howard Johnson restaurants contracted quicker than they expanded; by 1944 all but twelve closed. In this business there are three rules to remember: Location will make you if you do a good selling job, but a good location will almost carry you if you do a poor job, Howard Brennan will be a very disappointed man if [his 7 year-old son] Howard Bates doesnt become president of the Howard Johnson Company by the year 2000. The 1970s kicked off with a series of national negative publicity events for the Howard Johnson Company. The parent company filed for bankruptcy in 2004, after which the franchised store owners came together to form an LLC and purchase the rights. Meanwhile, HFS uncovered a disaster after its merger with CUC. Others, such as Kansas and Illinois would follow in the late 1940s. Another threat to the company was an impending 1979 lawsuit brought forth by the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of Howard Johnson franchisees. [ Final Seven Howard Johnsons Restaurants, late 2005: Bangor, ME, Waterbury, CT, Millington, MD, Bay City, MD, Asbury Park, NJ, Lake George, NY, and Lake Placid, NY ]. If it ever changes hands, it has to go to something else because the original franchisee had the right to keep the name [only] until they got rid of it., In September 2016 the Bangor location closed, leaving Lake George as the very last Howard Johnsons restaurant out more than 1,000. Johnson lured the family business by being one of the first to introduce a childrens menu and free desserts for Kids Club members on their birthdays. Home. His success was driven by the fact his exacting standards never changed. The thousand-seat restaurant featured luxurious touches such as crystal chandeliers, elaborate murals, and a grand staircase. Returning GIs, cheap gasoline, the popularity of the car, and a new interstate highway system each played a role. He was on the Board of Trustees at Bloomsburg University, which was the very college he attended and received a Bachelor of Science degree. He retired at the onset of his disease and turned to his other love, listening to jazz. He noticed the marble soda fountain was the busiest part of his drugstore, which sprouted an idea and led to a re-brand. In an effort to stay modern and cutting edge, the Howard Johnsons company hired Florida architect Rufus Nims to develop a modern interpretation that stayed true to the restaurants identity. The features, service, and quality of the food a one-timeHoward Johnsons staple had declined. Former French President Jacques Chirac died a few days ago, and once again Howard Johnson's was back in the news. Mr. Brennan, who passed away in 1984, wasn't famous for being a politician, or an inventor, or a top-flight athlete, or a movie star. So we have to sell a lot of liquor, but in a coffee shop you cant sell more than seven or eight percent liquor.. KELLY: Johnson died yesterday at age 79. 12th grade A honor roll: Bergen Ackerman, Emerson Ackerman, Emma Anderson, Joren Anderson, Olivia Anderson, Louis-Francois . Rather than own the hotels, HFS would simply purchase licensing rights and then provide marketing, reservation, and other value-added administrative services. Newspaper ads for Howard Johnsons frozen entrees, circa 1968-70. Nims most well-known contribution was the Series 77 (aka Nims-type) building. Marriott was less interested in the Howard Johnson Motor Lodges as it was in the real estate of the restaurant properties, specifically for conversion to Marriotts Big Boy and Roy Rogers restaurants. Marriott spent much of 1985 converting or closing HoJo restaurants and hotels not sold to PMI, sharply reducing the number of Howard Johnson establishments; within two years only the franchised locations remained untouched. Shortly after its implementation, the RRS became the first in the nation to take advantage of Bell Systems then-new inward watt service, developed in 1967. First row of the section where Maple and Balsam intersect. The company had a solid plan in place and a multi-year pipeline of new potential properties as the Interstate System construction continued into the 1960s. California Obituary Index name index of individuals born in California, at Obits Index. After the war the United States experienced a terrific economic boom sparked by the rising middle class. At the age of 13, he taught himself to play baritone saxophone; at 14, he began on the tuba, which he played in both his high-school marching and concert bands. It was effective, but by all accounts it was grueling and under-appreciated work, and not exactly a favorite internship program of students at business colleges and hotel schools. By the end of 1987 only 90 of the Marriott-owned Howard Johnsons restaurants remained, and by mid-1991 only 50 Marriott HoJos were still standing. For all things HoJo visit Walter Manns impressive online museum at HoJoLand.comand a listing of old locations atHighwayHost.org. HoJo hoped to build 50 of the Junctions, but the experiment was ultimately a failure. HoJo always seemed to have ideas to upgrade the restaurants and hotels. The elder Johnson observed his son's running of the company until his death in 1972 at the age of 75. In 1971 two irate guests at a downtown New Orleans HoJo set the hotel on fire, killing six guests. How it worked: A special Rapid Reservations telephone was located in the gatehouse of every motor lodge. Dorothy Henry, a longtime resident of Greenwich, Conn., and Edgartown, died Oct. 9. By 1928 Howard Johnson was grossing $240,000 from his store and small network of beachfront ice cream and frankfort vendors. Through several moves the younger Johnson modernized the company. Milton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA Show Map. He had known since the age of five he wanted to run the company, and he attended his first board of directors meeting when he was twelve years old. Within five years of opening its first Motor Lodge the company had expanded to 71 lodges. There is a cemetery sanctioned flat gray stone that reads Johnson 412-1 close to the road in front of his stone. Title: Moth. It was Rufus Nims job to not only solve this problem of economy, but to also create an even stronger identity with more robust brand recognition. Its dramatic A-frame gatehouse and orange roof fulfilled this role wonderfully as iconic roadside billboards across the nation. Charisse was born to Ethel M. Garrison. Howard Johnson LARWILL - Howard E. Johnson, a resident of Larwill, Indiana, passed away in Fort Wayne's Parkview Regional Medical Center on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. She scored in an 11-10 win over Alabama-Huntsville. The following year the company added another 55, for a total of 265 lodges to add to its still-growing portfolio of 770 restaurants. Meals were designed by top chefs Johnson plucked from New York Citys finest French restaurants. Now weve decided to go out and capture some of that volume like our competitors have been doing., In 1978 Johnson had failed to grow or make a serious acquisition, and instead was hoarding company cash. ], The motor lodges suffered less negative publicity and enjoyed substantial growth. It also considered discontinuing the orange roof, as HoJos then-president Eric Pfeffer declared, As we change with the times, weve got to show the newness.. Today all have closed, except one. He was an avid fan of the game of basketball, playing both in high school and college. The reclassification allowed the specialty restaurants to serve more liquor. Many HoJo restaurants drew their customers off the highway rather than from local repeat business, which over time led to some of the less scrupulous managers allowing standards to slip. Howards system of having the licensees bear startup cost rather than the chain and requiring licensees to purchase food and supplies directly from Johnsons distribution network was a relatively new idea and one that would prove to be a tremendous financial success for nearly half a century. As the company itself described, the proposed site must enhance the facility, lend itself to attractive landscaping, provide sufficient parking and meet particular local needs.. He was 71 years old. I overreacted. We must get rid of that plastic image Anything can be salvageable if a great deal of time and money and effort is put in it. Once it leaves the hands of the original owner, If it ever changes hands, it has to go to something else because the original franchisee had the right to keep the name [only] until they got rid of it. Hostage initiated corporate discounts, a new reservations system, and he raised the advertising budget to attract business travelers. Albemarle County resident Angela Kathleen Johnson may have wanted to avoid a . One solution to the liquor ceiling was to reorganize the restaurants into two divisions: The Orange Roofs (which included traditional Howard Johnsons restaurants as well as Turnpike and Truck Stop stores), and the more upscale Specialty Restaurant Division (which included Ground Round, Red Coach Grills, and Lucky Lils). Reaping the rewards of their success, the Johnson family cashed out between 1961 and 1967, selling nearly two million shares of stock for close to one billion dollars. Inside, rustic traditional seating was replaced with minimalist benches. This double-barrel method of selling products to the franchisees was another Howard Johnson innovation, but prior to 1979 it was without regulation. An aggressive television advertising campaign was launched in 1999 to promote the companys new hotels. Howard Brennan Johnsons exit came in November of 1981, when the 49 year-old cashed out his remaining $35.2 million in shares and resigned as Howard Johnsons chairman after serving the company for 24 years. One way Howard tried to fill the earnings gap was by instituting around-the-clock service in more than 80% of the company restaurants, which captured additional revenue from the after-hours crowd. While generally in good repair, these hotels were not constructed as HoJos and thus lacked the distinctive architecture, orange roof, and attached restaurants. Before going public the company spent richly on its food and hired top architects, chefs, and designers. Were trying all sorts of new things, Howard B. Johnson announced as he attempted to modernize the brand. DMN 12/23/83 page 55a. Additional flavors were added 28 in all as well as frankforts, a premium hot dog sandwich developed by Howard that was grilled in butter. Facility age was a concern across the board; many of the east coast restaurants were more than forty years old, and some had never received a renovation. The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for biographies. He served in the U.S. Air Force as. People know exactly what they can count on when they see it.. In 20 minutes, he said, Im presented with decisions about the architecture of new motels, the composition of a menu, the real estate values in Long Island and the ingredients of a can of soup.. Naturally, wed like more of these double-barreled profits., Howard B. Johnson appreciated customer feedback. more than a dozen of his employees. Site specialists were hired to identify top real estate locations to build new motor lodges. Last year our own 279 stores and restaurants had sales of nearly $79 million, on which we got both the wholesale and the retail profit. Bud spent two years working in lower executive roles within the company, effectively learning the ropes. By the end of the decade the company was the largest commercial food supplier in the United States, feeding more Americans than everyone but the U.S. Army. In December of 2016 DeSantis Enterprises hired a new real estate firm to sell their property (see archived listing). From 1942 until 1945 the Howard Johnsons chain performed in this role, expansion plans on hold as the company served food to domestic war volunteers and Army recruits. Early life [ edit] ]. I stopped all expansion, and once you stop, you know how hard it is to get the monster going again, an opportunity which was in the best interests of the Howard Johnson shareholders. Today in History. Behind several demonstrations of the movement was theCongress of Racial Equality, or CORE. Grade 12: Addison J. Aker, Rebecca R. Aleshire, Madalyn G. Anderson, Trevor J. Anderson, Juliette J. Berg, Maddex M. Biolo, Ethan T. Blohm, Isabella S.A. Blohm, Grant . [ Howard Johnsons was not the first food company to franchise that achievement goes to Harvey House, a fixture in railroad terminals in the late 1800s. For the next two years the chain added fifteen restaurants per year. The event made national news and prompted a public apology from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. When FAI folded in 2005 the management and franchise licensing rights for the Howard Johnsons restaurant brand and its seven remaining locations returned to its previous owner, HFS (now Cendant), which by this time was concurrently spinning off its hospitality arm as Wyndham Worldwide. He dropped out of grade school and went to work for his father's cigar company before he was a teenager. We were not allowed to make any improvements to speak of as we went along so [we] quit doing the Co.s work altogether in 1958., Howard Deering Johnsons success was due in part to his relentless drive in business, which during his working years he claimed was his only real hobby in life. Cendant assumed control of all HFS properties, which included HFS subsidiary Howard Johnson International and its 550 Howard Johnson hotels. The theater guild relocated the production to nearby Quincy, just blocks from Howard Johnsons restaurant. Johnson was succeeded by G. Michael Hostage, a fifteen-year veteran of Marriott recruited by Imperial to take over the post in 1981. He was born Aug. 23, 1924, in La Crosse, to Charlie and Ragna (Blihovde) Johnson. There are 80+ professionals named "Brennan Johnson", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. HFS continued its buying spree into the mid-1990s, eventually becoming the largest hotel franchiser in the world after adding Super 8 Motels, Park Inns, and Village Lodges to its holdings. People joked that Howard Johnsons ice cream came in 28 flavors and its food in one, and that eating at HoJo felt like fast food served slow.. Howard Johnson, who gave the country 28 flavors of ice cream and a chain of restaurants to buy them from, died yesterday in Lenox Hill Hospitall. According to their now defunct website, Franchise Associates Inc. developed the menu, provided training, offered quality assurance, marketing and mass purchasing, and handled public relations, new product development and operational supervision. He spent 15 years working for his father's business, eventually becoming the company's top salesperson. In April 1967 an agreement was signed with Texaco that permitted the oil companys credit card holders to charge their meals and lodging when eating and staying at Howard Johnsons motor lodges. He caught a break in 1929 when the mayor of Boston prohibited the planned theater production of Eugene ONeills Strange Interlude in the city. After the lawsuits, expiring toll road contracts and observing of an oil crisis-reduced travel season, HoJos net earnings in 1980 had been halved to $14.7 million. In exchange for these services, restaurant operators paid FAI 1.5% of gross revenues. She scored in an 11-10 win over Alabama-Huntsville.
In addition to his wife, Howard is survived by his sons, Howard Aaron Johnson and his wife Ashley and Andrew B. Johnson. He is also survived by his siblings, Stanley, Judy, Marva, Linda and Norma and by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Randall Johnson.
A public viewing will be held on Monday, January 18, 2021 from 12:45-1:45 p.m. at the James J. Terry Funeral Home, 736 E. Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown. Due to the Covid pandemic, the memorial service will be held privately with the family.