Howard Johnson's, Vermont 1950s
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This unusual die-cut menu from the 1950s illustrates Vermont’s historic and natural attractions. It was produced by the Howard Johnson's restaurant chain as a souvenir for the many families that would have visited its Burlington location on a Labor Day weekend.
HoJos, as it was fondly named by customers, began life as a pharmacy and soda fountain in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1925. Businessman Howard Johnson, who had borrowed $2,000 to open the property, realized that customers were queuing up for his ice-cream and milk shakes – rather than items on sale in his drugstore – and he opened his first sit-down restaurant.
By the time America entered the Second World War, there were more than 200 franchised or company-owned HoJos.
The company reached its peak in the 1970s with over 1,000 restaurants but faced challenges as fast food companies like McDonalds began to encroach on its customer base.
In 1979, Marriott bought all the Howard Johnson's and either shut them down or converted them into other restaurant chains.
This menu-map would have been a great souvenir of a visit to Vermont. Known as the Green Mountain State, it is the leading producer of maple syrup in the United States. It is also famous for dairy farming, artisanal cheese and renowned for its autumn foliage.
Bordering Massachusetts (south), New Hampshire (east), New York (west), and Quebec, Canada (north), Vermont is the second-least populated state (pop 644,000) and its capital in Montpelier and its biggest city is Burlington.
As you will see from the interior menu, HoJo customers were handsomely fed for the sum of $1.50 per person in the 1950s.
Each order includes a print of the interior menu.
All printed in USA.
