Howard Johnson Motor Lodge and Restaurant located at 3951 NW Blitchton Rd. in Ocala,FL. The motel which underwent a significant renovation in 2016 was the first HJ location to incorporate the "Renew" brand standards implemented by Wyndham Worldwide. The owners went above and beyond by adding not only an orange roof but a Simple Simon weathervane atop the lobby which is shared with an onsite Howard Johnson Restaurant open to the public. The restaurant does not use the original HJ recipes but it is the closest one will get to eating an order of clams and having an ice cream sundae under an orange roof. The rooms were completely renovated and provide a slight nod to the past with the orange walls and a mix of mid-century themed furnishings. The property which was built in the mid 1960s didnt operate as a HoJo's until the late 1990s but instead (likely) an Econo Lodge. Since the property was converted into a Howard Johnson before the restaurant division went under in 2004 its possible that the space where the limited service HJ Restaurant is operating was and is in fact "technically" an authentic Howard Johnson's Restaurant. While staying at the property on February 1st and 2nd of 2018 I had a wonderful conversation with the property owner, his wife, and the manager on duty who gave me the scoop about the remodel and the "words" and "phrases" that can and cannot be used according to Wyndham guidelines. According to the manager the restaurant got the "okay" to use the phrase "HoJo's Famous Flounder and Clams" but not use the word "tendersweet" for reasons unknown. Additionally the restaurant which is part of the hotel and is open to the public cannot formally be branded a "Howard Johnson's Restaurant" (Note the 's). They claim to be the only Howard Johnson location to have an onsite restaurant but the wife of the owner emphasized saying the only location "for now" with a big smile on her face.
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Howard Johnson Motor Lodge and Restaurant located at 3951 NW Blitchton Rd. in Ocala,FL. The motel which underwent a significant renovation in 2016 was the first HJ location to incorporate the "Renew" brand standards implemented by Wyndham Worldwide. The owners went above and beyond by adding not only an orange roof but a Simple Simon weathervane atop the lobby which is shared with an onsite Howard Johnson Restaurant open to the public. The restaurant does not use the original HJ recipes but it is the closest one will get to eating an order of clams and having an ice cream sundae under an orange roof. The rooms were completely renovated and provide a slight nod to the past with the orange walls and a mix of mid-century themed furnishings. The property which was built in the mid 1960s didnt operate as a HoJo's until the late 1990s but instead (likely) an Econo Lodge. Since the property was converted into a Howard Johnson before the restaurant division went under in 2004 its possible that the space where the limited service HJ Restaurant is operating was and is in fact "technically" an authentic Howard Johnson's Restaurant. While staying at the property on February 1st and 2nd of 2018 I had a wonderful conversation with the property owner, his wife, and the manager on duty who gave me the scoop about the remodel and the "words" and "phrases" that can and cannot be used according to Wyndham guidelines. According to the manager the restaurant got the "okay" to use the phrase "HoJo's Famous Flounder and Clams" but not use the word "tendersweet" for reasons unknown. Additionally the restaurant which is part of the hotel and is open to the public cannot formally be branded a "Howard Johnson's Restaurant" (Note the 's). They claim to be the only Howard Johnson location to have an onsite restaurant but the wife of the owner emphasized saying the only location "for now" with a big smile on her face.
Howard Johnson Motor Lodge and Restaurant located at 3951 NW Blitchton Rd. in Ocala,FL. The motel which underwent a significant renovation in 2016 was the first HJ location to incorporate the "Renew" brand standards implemented by Wyndham Worldwide. The owners went above and beyond by adding not only an orange roof but a Simple Simon weathervane atop the lobby which is shared with an onsite Howard Johnson Restaurant open to the public. The restaurant does not use the original HJ recipes but it is the closest one will get to eating an order of clams and having an ice cream sundae under an orange roof. The rooms were completely renovated and provide a slight nod to the past with the orange walls and a mix of mid-century themed furnishings. The property which was built in the mid 1960s didnt operate as a HoJo's until the late 1990s but instead (likely) an Econo Lodge. Since the property was converted into a Howard Johnson before the restaurant division went under in 2004 its possible that the space where the limited service HJ Restaurant is operating was and is in fact "technically" an authentic Howard Johnson's Restaurant. While staying at the property on February 1st and 2nd of 2018 I had a wonderful conversation with the property owner, his wife, and the manager on duty who gave me the scoop about the remodel and the "words" and "phrases" that can and cannot be used according to Wyndham guidelines. According to the manager the restaurant got the "okay" to use the phrase "HoJo's Famous Flounder and Clams" but not use the word "tendersweet" for reasons unknown. Additionally the restaurant which is part of the hotel and is open to the public cannot formally be branded a "Howard Johnson's Restaurant" (Note the 's). They claim to be the only Howard Johnson location to have an onsite restaurant but the wife of the owner emphasized saying the only location "for now" with a big smile on her face.
Howard Johnson Motor Lodge and Restaurant located at 3951 NW Blitchton Rd. in Ocala,FL. The motel which underwent a significant renovation in 2016 was the first HJ location to incorporate the "Renew" brand standards implemented by Wyndham Worldwide. The owners went above and beyond by adding not only an orange roof but a Simple Simon weathervane atop the lobby which is shared with an onsite Howard Johnson Restaurant open to the public. The restaurant does not use the original HJ recipes but it is the closest one will get to eating an order of clams and having an ice cream sundae under an orange roof. The rooms were completely renovated and provide a slight nod to the past with the orange walls and a mix of mid-century themed furnishings. The property which was built in the mid 1960s didnt operate as a HoJo's until the late 1990s but instead (likely) an Econo Lodge. Since the property was converted into a Howard Johnson before the restaurant division went under in 2004 its possible that the space where the limited service HJ Restaurant is operating was and is in fact "technically" an authentic Howard Johnson's Restaurant. While staying at the property on February 1st and 2nd of 2018 I had a wonderful conversation with the property owner, his wife, and the manager on duty who gave me the scoop about the remodel and the "words" and "phrases" that can and cannot be used according to Wyndham guidelines. According to the manager the restaurant got the "okay" to use the phrase "HoJo's Famous Flounder and Clams" but not use the word "tendersweet" for reasons unknown. Additionally the restaurant which is part of the hotel and is open to the public cannot formally be branded a "Howard Johnson's Restaurant" (Note the 's). They claim to be the only Howard Johnson location to have an onsite restaurant but the wife of the owner emphasized saying the only location "for now" with a big smile on her face.