I recently enjoyed a great lunch at the popular Chris' Restaurant at 2812 West Erie Avenue in Lorain. I've driven by this place for years without stopping, and just had to find out why it was always packed. My lunch (a lake perch sandwich) was great, and the service was excellent too, but I also enjoyed myself for another reason. It was a chance to check out the building! Old-timers like me still remember when it was a Howard Johnson's.
Here's an article that appeared in the Lorain Journal on March 29, 1955 announcing the construction. (Click on it for a closer look.)
The clipping makes mention of the fact that the new Howard Johnson's was being built on the site of the old Coliseum (which I wrote about way back here.)
I think it is fascinating to think about U.S. Route 6 back then being a coast-to-coast highway, and its western approach to Lorain being dotted with so many motels. It gives the area a sort of roadside charm, and certainly a Howard Johnson's cemented that 'national highway' feeling.
My family stopped there for ice cream at least a few times on special occasions. Of course, back then there were a lot of places competing for the family buck, including Brady's Restaurant (which I've blogged about so many times, I won't even bother giving you a link) and the Lorain Creamery.
Although I think of Howard Johnson's as only being a place for ice cream, apparently they had a great fish fry. Here's an ad from June 2, 1960.
Anyway, Howard Johnson's survived until sometime around 1976, when it disappeared from the phone book. I was actually surprised it lasted that long. Its location down on Route 6 between Leavitt Road and the spot where 21st Street joins up with the highway meant that we almost never went passed it if we were going west. (We'd take 21st Street instead, bypassing Howard Johnson's, the Castle and McDonald's.) I'll bet a lot of other families did the same.
But getting back to Chris' Restaurant. Here's a recent shot of the place, followed by a vintage Howard Johnson's of roughly the same era for comparison. It looks like a dead-on match to me.
The inside of Chris', to me at least, looked unchanged from its days as a Howard Johnson's, with its 1960's era booths. So of course that meant that I loved it! I'll be back for sure. And soon.
I used to eat at Howard Johnson's as a kid. For some reason I think they had either a "Birthday Club" or a "Clean Plate Club". If you at all of your food or if it was your birthday, you got free ice cream. Mmmmmmmm...maybe the "Clean Plate Club" was something my parents made up to inspire me to eat all of my dinner???
ReplyDeleteHoy hoy,
Jeff Rash
Do you remember these places....
ReplyDeleteThe Hoop Drive-In Restaurants, on Colorado Avenue, and at the corner of Leavitt Road and West Erie Avenue?
The Big Dipper Drive in, on the corner of Colorado and Kansas?
The Big Steer Inn, on the way to Cleveland?
OOPS! The Hoop was on Kansas Avenue, not Colorado Road.
ReplyDeleteI've been accumulating research on the Hoop Drive-ins for a future blog series, although I only remember them as being Manners Big Boy's. We used to get a free BIg Boy for a report card with all A's!
ReplyDeleteAs for Jeff's comment about a Birthday Club, I kinda remember that too. That seemed to be a pretty good gimmick in the 1960's... we used to go to Perkins Pancakes on Route 254 on our birthday too! Mmmm...pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream!
I can just barely remember the "Big Steer Inn". My Dad took me there maybe twice when I was about 2 years old. It's kinda hard for me to place its location, due to my age at the time, but I'm guessing that it was around maybe Rt. 20 near Porter Rd.? I remember it was a drive-in with illuminated menus next to the car and when it was dark outside, there were rows of clear lightbulbs strung on wires that went all around the exterior. I remember the sign had a steer's head that looks straight ahead. I believe they may have sold roast beef sandwiches similar to what Arby's would soon be selling. I don't recall any Arby's in the area yet when we went to Big Steer, circa 1965.
ReplyDeleteWe lived in Vermilion and used to stop at Howard Johnson's on Wednesday nights on the way to church when they had their all-you-can-eat fried clams. At least that's what I remember. And I'm going to keep that memory, accurate or inaccurate.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Hojo's as a teenager during the late 1960's. I was a busboy, dishwasher, garbage room cleaner (P-U), failed cook and -- surprise surprise--night manager. High school friends formed the backbone of the crew. The wait staff were all women who were paid 80 cents an hour plus tips because they were classified as "agricultural" workers under the minimum wage law (kitchen help got the full $1.10 per hour wage -- no tips). A great tip in those days was a dollar!!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, my point is that "all you can eat" clam dinners ($1.49) were on Friday, not Wednesday.
Wednesday was "all you can eat" fried chicken, same price.
So there.
You're welcome.