Howard Johnson's Restaurant (the apostrophe indicates it was one of the early restaurants) was once America's largest restaurant chain. It served reliable, modestly priced food. This was one of the few remaining restaurants, in the formerly great chain, which is now closed forever. It operated there for 46 years. The actor Gene Hackman was once a doorman there.

The restaurant had a 'Happy Hour' from 4 to 7, with all drinks just $3.75 – 'except for premium brands.' People imbibed old fashioned drinks: Rob Roys, Rusty Nails, and Apricot Sours. One could purchase decanters of Manhattans, or martinis, or daiquiris. Now the restaurant is a Times Square discard, like Horn & Hardart Automats.