'Turnback Tuesday' features Howard Johnson's in Derby

Turnback Tuesday visits a very iconic restaurant: Howard Johnson’s. Howard Deering Johnson started his business as a single ice cream stand in Quincy, MA in 1925. 

By 1935, he pioneered modern restaurant franchising and expanded rapidly along highways. In the '70s, there were over 1,000 locations nationwide. The restaurant had its iconic orange roof and weather vane on every building. Basically, you could not miss it from the road.

Howard Johnson’s in Derby opened at 5 Main St. in 1968 and continued to do business until 1980. The building is still there today. 

This plate is from one of their restaurants and is on display at Derby Public Library, along with other items in celebration of America's 250th.

Thanks goes to Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.