Welcome to another edition of 'Tablescape Thursday" hosted by our talented inspirationSusan...
You know the drill.....stop by Susan's for a whole long list of
other talented participants....
Now for a little nostalgia.....Let's step back into the 1950's with a
Sunday dinner at every one's favorite......HoJo...
Here I am on Easter Sunday 1954.....outside a Howard Johnson's somewhere inJersey......it was a big deal back in 1954....to go eat at the HoJo...
Let's step inside and see what's on the menu.....
Do you remember eating at your local Howard Johnson's.... 
Oh look signature dishes.........No I didn't swipe these the last time I ate there..... 
I recently acquired this little plate that sat underneath their ice cream glasses...
We also found these adorable individual creamer containers....
Let's step inside and see what's on the menu.....
Do you remember eating at your local Howard Johnson's....I do....
I always got the fried clams.....or better yet a delicacy of the 1950's..
shrimp or chicken croquettes.....
I remember the shrimp one coming with a strange orange colored sauce...
but it was awfully good!!
Oh look signature dishes.........No I didn't swipe these the last time I ate there.....Thanks to E-Bay...
The Boss bought me an entire place setting....
In mint condition it is the prize of my diner china collection....
Not cheap.....I am very glad these weren't sitting on the table when the fan gave way.....
I recently acquired this little plate that sat underneath their ice cream glasses...
We also found these adorable individual creamer containers....with the original paper lids....
Never eaten on ever......these sit in a glass curio cabinet when not being 
The whole set.....
the Chili Bowl.....sitting on top of a
the Famous "Pie Man'....
Never eaten on ever......these sit in a glass curio cabinet when not beingphotographed....
The whole set.....
the Chili Bowl.....sitting on top of asandwich plate....
Did anyone see the Anthony Bourdain episode on the Travel Network where he
ate a bad grilled cheese sandwich with stale potato chips at the
Howard Johnson's on the boardwalk in
Asbury Park...New Jersey.....
that's the one I used to got to....
the Famous "Pie Man'....this is the soup bowl....
A larger cream pitcher....
The color scheme that you could see from 2 miles away....
A larger cream pitcher....
The color scheme that you could see from 2 miles away....Orange and Blue....
And finally.....the downfall of Howard Johnson's on the Boardwalk in
And finally.....the downfall of Howard Johnson's on the Boardwalk inAsbury Park.....
In the 1960's when I was a teen my Grandmother moved to the Jersey Shore to live with my uncle....My mother would take me out of school on occasion to go visit her....
On the long ride home we would always stop at this location....
Back then the boardwalk was full of life.....not disrepair....
I would get that grilled cheese sandwich but back then the chips were fresh...
We even used to sit in the same area where Anthony Bourdain sat...
Right in the front window over looking the ocean....
It's a fond memory of my childhood.....
I hope it brought back some memories for you too!!
Thanks for stopping in.....
I loved this! You were so cute too! The dishes are so nostalgic and the story and info you shared was great! Cindy
ReplyDeleteLook at you! How cute you were. Loved your dishes - the little pie man is adorable. I only remember one Howard Johnsons, and it was in Denver when Bob and I lived there in the 1960s. I think we went there just once for breakfast. Glad "The Boss" splurged and bought you the dishes. Now, your memories will never fade!!! Sally
ReplyDeleteI don't hink I have ever eaten at a Howard Johnsons, are they still around? Cute dishes, I love that old restaurant ware. You were such a cute little girl:>)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Sue. Your dishes are a real treasure. They bring back wonderful memories from years ago. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHoward Johnson's at the Parkway circle in Clark was a favorite. I loved their fried clams, too. The ice cream was the best.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great nostalgic post with your wonderful memories. The dishes and the story were great!
ReplyDeleteChristi
Hi Barbara..thanks for stopping by...That picture of me was probably taken at the H.J. at the circle in Clark....We lived in Rahway!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post!
ReplyDeleteSuch fun to see the early pics and then a nicely made up table.
Blessings,
d from HomeHaven
Oh, what great memories you have! Savor it all. I don't recall HOJO out here in California. Great post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post, We use to eat there al the time...The dishes are wonderful...
ReplyDeletexoxo
Julie
What sweet memories. Yes I do remember Howard Johnsons and loved to eat there. Your dishes and all the accessories are just fabulous memories from that time. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteHow neat that you have the whole set of those dishes. I love your photo, you were so cute, all dressed up wearing a hat...Christine
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! How cute! I love your dishes. Worth every penny. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove those "vintage" photographs! The restaurantware is fantastic. Great job ... so cute. Hope you'll drop by and visit me!
ReplyDeleteOh how cute - loved your trip down memory lane!
ReplyDeleteNever mind the dishes...look at the stunning resemblance of your little Sophie to you when you were little!!!
ReplyDeleteOh....and your dishes are cute too. ;-)
What a fun tablescape. I loved your story and then the dishware to match. How very special. I know you are proud of this set, just as you should be. Great memories. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. What fun. Love the dishes and the story. Thanks for posting today.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great trip down memory lane. We always went to the Ho Jo's by us for ice cream after any school event. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete- The Tablescaper
Thanks for a trip down memory lane. This is a great collection. What a fun post. Love the photo of you! ~ Sarah
ReplyDeleteIt seems a lot of us are feeling a bit nostalgic this week. I love that picture. Alas, Howard Johnsons were for big city kids..I could only dream in my small town :) Thanks for sharing your pictures and memories!
ReplyDeleteWow, how cool is this post???? I love the dishes AND the memories!! Adorable pictures too!!
ReplyDeleteDishes are always lovely but when they hold special significance and memories to you, that is the best! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDD
Who could forget HJ?? There was one in Huntington, NY when I was growing up...
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Sue..love the dishes..quite the collector's item..don't use the cream though..:)
Hey I have a picture of me in a hat just like that. I'll have to find it. I lived on the west coast and where we lived there were no Howard Johnsons. Back in the 50's it was a huge deal to go out to eat. Nowadays it's 5 times a week. You have a fabulous dish collection Mimi
ReplyDeleteHi Sue. Wow!.. nice boss! (0; The dishes are really sweet, but I really enjoyed reading the memories and photos you shared! Great post!
ReplyDelete~tina
Aren't you a cutie, Miss Sue!! Yes, I do remember HoJo!! There was not one near me, but when we would travel, I would beg to eat there!! I remember dessert...devil's food cake with a scoop of their peppermint ice cream on top!! I can still taste it! Thanks for bringing back a sweet memory!!...hugs...Debbie
ReplyDeleteGreat, nostalgic post Sue! Growing up on Long Island, we did the Howard Johnson's thing every now and then. I liked their ice cream the most. Now living at the Jersey Shore, we went to the Howard Johnson's in Asbury before it closed, and understood why it did. Still, you have a fabulous collection there and have brought back some great memories.
ReplyDelete♥, Susan
If you havent met www.fisheseddy.com you should ..
ReplyDeleteOh Sue, what a cute little girl you were ~ and all dressed up in your darling Easter outfit!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stroll down memory lane ~ we didn't have any HoJo's near us until I was an adult, but growing up in the same period of time that you did -your post still struck a nostalgic chord with me. ((hugs))
Oh I do remember the fried Clams ~ years later I would order those, too! :) xo
I'm originally from England so I've never heard of Howard Johnson's, but I love all the pictures, and your pretty setting :)
ReplyDeleteMy main memory of Ho Jo was stopping there for cups of hot cocoa as we traveled to our Vermont house. My bro and I, as college students, would sometimes travel up in the evening and we always wanted something hot and satisfying on the way up!
ReplyDeleteCool collection!
what a cute post, i love your nostalia~
ReplyDeleteI love the place setting and it transported me back to a time when I ordered a Ho Jo cherry cola. I remember that they had clam chowder with oyster crackers. They use to sell the most delicious date and nut bread in a can by the check out counter. I ate a whole lot of Ho Jo food as there was one by SUNY Albany and my roomie worked there and I remember her uniform and her little hat/headband. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteJoyce
Oh I remember HoJo's so well. When I was a little girl I always wanted to stop there when we were traveling. My dad was a big believer in "driving straight through"! :)
ReplyDeleteHow fun!
~Liz
Oh I love that place setting and serving peices! I remember HOJO's all the time! We started going down to Gatlinburg, Tn. when I was 4 in 1964 and we'd always stop at Cracker Barrel for breakfast in Corbin Ky....and we'd stay at HoJo's in Gatlingburg. On the way home we'd stop at the HoJo's in Lexington, Ky for dinner and the best ice cream. I never ate veggies, but they had the best peas
ReplyDelete.....Little Boy Blue Peas on the children's menu....hummmm guess that may be why Mom and Dad stopped
for a late dinner!
...just to get me to eat veggies.
Those are just too cute! I sort of remember Howard Johnsons.
ReplyDeleteManuela
How interesting and very nostalgic! Sue, I love that adorable pic of you in your Easter bonnet clutching your little Easter pocketbook...so cute! I'm glad you have this neat keepsake place setting to remind you of such a special time and all those special memories. :-) Susan
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love your dishes ... I'd rather have restaurant dishes then any china ..in fact I always buy odds and ends restaurant dishes at yard sales ... they are my every day dishes ..but none of them have logos on them .. You are soo lucky and I am so 'green' with envy.
ReplyDeleteHugz ...Betty
Oh if you could've seen the Asbury HoJo's this weekend...there was a big fancy wedding there!! Can you believe?! Our little Asbury is coming back...brick by brick...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories. Originally from Elizabeth, we spent every summer in Bradley going into Asbury for rides and more rides and lobsters at the "Criterian" A couple of years ago I drove from Deal to Belmar and spent some time sitting on the boardwalk in Asbury remembering how I almost never got out of the water 'cept to for sand crab races, popsicle stick trading, lunch at the 'Nosherie"...beach badge hunts, ( I saw 6 orange ones!!) Huge pots of Ipswich clams at Dave and Evelyn's,...Hard to find down here in Miami as they're not part of the Cuban culture.. Ocean Grove now ROCKS!! No more the sleeeepppy little religious berg from the 50's.I remember HoJo's from Rt.22 in Rahway, Mother Hubbard's in Elizabeth, White Castle, The donut man on North Ave. My dad, a lifelong New Jerseyan died a couple years ago so I prolly wont be in that part of the country any more but maybe..who knows? ;->
ReplyDelete