Howard Johnson Company
Howard Johnson Company
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Product Details
Beautifully engraved antique stock certificate from the Howard Johnson Company dating back to the 1960's and 1970's. This document, which carries the printed signatures of the company President and Treasurer, was printed by the Security-Columbian Bank Note Company, and measures approximately 12" (w) by 8" (h).
This piece features a great vignette of an alleogorical female figure flanked by two Howard Johnson icons - the lamplighter and the pie man. Both figures are accompanied by Simple Simon.
Images
The images presented are representative of the piece(s) you will receive. When representative images are presented for one of our offerings, you will receive a certificate in similar condition as the one pictured; however dating, denomination, certificate number and issuance details may vary.
Historical Context
In 1927, Howard Denning Johnson assumed ownership (from his deceased father) of a small patent medicine store, soda fountain and newsstand, located in Wollaston, a section of Quincy, Massachusetts. The store was a money loser. Still, Johnson felt he could make it could work. The first thing he did was send out delivery boys to sell newspapers in nearby communities. Sales went up, then Johnson turned his attention to the soda fountain. The store sold just three flavors of ice cream-vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Johnson believed the number of flavors should be expanded, but first, he was determined to improve the quality of the ice cream he was selling. Using an old-fashioned freezer in the basement, he began cranking away by hand and experimenting to develop the best product possible. By doubling the butterfat content and using only natural ingredients-Johnson came up with what he thought was a superior ice cream. His customers thought so, too, and soon they were standing in lines outside his establishment.

In 1929, he opened another restaurant, in downtown Quincy, Massachusetts, and began planning further expansion. Later that year, the stock market crash threw the country into the Great Depression and Johnson's expansion plans became dim. Johnson had envisioned a chain of restaurants which would have the confidence of travelers. He believed the automobile would change the face of America and he foresaw better roads and more people on the move who would want good food at sensible prices. He owed so much money he couldn't borrow more, but he was eager to expand. Then, he conceived a new idea-franchising. Johnson talked another businessman into using the "Howard Johnson's" name on a Cape Cod restaurant, in return for a fee and an agreement to buy food and supplies from Johnson. The idea worked well for both men, and Johnson made similar agreements with others. That was the beginning of restaurant franchising, a system that has since been replicated by countless others. By 1935, there were 25 Howard Johnson's roadside ice cream and sandwich stands in Massachusetts.
A year later, one of the first Howard Johnson's Restaurant in Connecticut was opened by Irving Carter, on Route 1 in Milford. That restaurant remained open as a HoJo's until 1999. During the last years of the 1930's, the number of HoJo's Restaurants grew to more than 100 along the Atlantic coast all the way to Florida. The first turnpike restaurant in the U.S. was opened by Howard Johnson's on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The company soon became the leading tollroad operator in the country. Business boomed and the Howard Johnson Company continued to grow.
Then came World War II, and once again, Johnson faced financial disaster. Food rationing cut off the Company's supplies, and gasoline rationing and travel restrictions cut off his customers. Most of the restaurants closed and the Company faced bankruptcy. Johnson kept the Company alive by providing food for military installations, defense plants and schools. When the war ended, most of the restaurants reopened and new ones were built.
The trend toward a scarcity of skilled chefs had already come into focus and steps to cope with this labor shortage had to be taken. Johnson pioneered the new convenience food concept of processing and pre-proporting food in Company-operated central plants and shipping to restaurants for final preparation and cooking to insure high quality standardized food service. Each restaurant was topped with a bright orange roof so the traveler would immediately recognize the restaurant. This became a beacon to the travelers as Howard Johnson's became know for quality food at reasonable prices and with the added lure of ice cream available in 28 flavors. Howard Johnson's had 400 restaurants in 1954 when the Company entered the lodging industry with the opening of it's first franchised motor lodge in Savannah, Georgia. A pre-sold name in which the motorist placed confidence, soon became a combined dining and one-stop overnight convenience.
In 1959, Howard D. Johnsons passed the reins to his son, Howard B. Johnson. Growth continued and the Company became publicly owned in 1961, with it's stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange. In the 1960's, HoJo still owned the road, expansion had stretched coast-to-coast. In 1965, sales exceeded those of McDonald's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken COMBINED! HoJo's was the second largest food feeder in the U.S., second only to the U.S. Army. In 1969, HoJo's developed the "Ground Round" restaurant concept, joining HoJo's previously established "Red Coach Grills" restaurants. By the late 1970's, HoJo's empire consisted of over 1,000 restaurants, more than 500 motor lodges, vending and turnpike operations and a manufacturing and distribution system.
Despite this growth, competition from fast food chains and other, new emerging chains had cut into HoJo business. Howard Johnson's was sold by the founder's son to British conglomerate Imperial Group in 1980, for more than $630 million dollars. An effort with new management teams, new restaurant concepts and millions of dollars failed to rejuvenate the chain, and in 1985, Imperial sold the company, except for "Ground Round," to Marriott Corporation. Marriott's interest was in the restaurant locations, which it planned to convert to its own concepts, so it quickly sold the motel/hotel/motor lodge system to Prime Motor Inns. The hotel system is owned today by Cendant Corporation, and has approximately 500 locations. Because the HJ Restaurant franchisees had worked for decades to develop their local business, there were obvious concerns about the long-term viability of the restaurant system. In 1986, a group of franchisees, led by former U.S. Attorney Griffin Bell, sued Marriott and Prime. A settlement was reached that allowed the franchisees to form their own company, Franchise Associates, Inc. FAI then gained the rights to the name "Howard Johnson's," as well as the right to franchise restaurants and ice cream shops with the "Howard Johnson's" name. FAI also owns the original HJ recipes, and, to this day, sells items like Howard Johnson's Macaroni and Cheese, TenderSweet Fried Clams, Chicken Croquettes and Toastees in major grocery stores. In 1990, FAI opened a new prototype "Howard Johnson's Restaurant" in Canton, Massachusetts, in hopes of gaining new franchisees. In 2000, that prototype closed. There are currently 10 HJ Restaurants and 1 HJ Ice Cream Shoppe in existence.
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General Information
Certificates carry no value on any of today's financial indexes and no transfer of ownership is implied. All items offered are collectible in nature only. So, you can frame them, but you can't cash them in! All of our pieces are original - we do not sell reproductions. If you ever find out that one of our pieces is not authentic, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and any associated shipping charges. |
Shipping
We make every effort to ship out all orders within 24 hours of receipt. We ship the majority of orders via the USPS. Shipping within the United States is $5.00 regardless of the number of certificates you purchase. If your order exceeds $30, shipping is FREE! International shipping costs, as well as upgraded services such as Priority and Express Mail, and UPS and DHL services, are calculated during checkout. OVERSEAS ORDERS PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DECLARE FULL ORDER VALUE ON ALL SHIPMENTS. CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL VAT/CUSTOMS CHARGES. As soon as your order is shipped you will receive your tracking information via email. |
Returns
You may return any merchandise, for any reason, within 30 days of the purchase date for a full refund of the purchase price. We guarantee all of our pieces to be authentic. If you ever determine that a piece is not authentic, it may be returned for a full refund of the purchase price as well as any associated shipping charges. |
FAQ
Are the certificates offered on your site genuine or reproductions? All of the certificates you see on our site are genuine pieces, we do not sell any reproductions. Â
Are the certificates you sell negotiable on any of today's stock markets or indexes?Â
No. All of the pieces we sell are either canceled or obsolete and have collectible value only.Â
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Are the images presented in your product listings of the exact piece I will receive?Â
It depends. We try to present images of the exact piece you will receive whenever possible. However, when we are offering quantities of a piece, this is impossible. The best way to determine if the images presented are of the actual piece you will receive or are representative, is to click on the "Product Details" or "Images" tab. The description presented will let you know.Â
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How will you ship my order and how much do you charge? We ship all orders via the United States Postal Service. For orders taking advantage of standard (First Class) shipping, we offer flat rate pricing, so you pay only the advertised shipping charge regardless of the number of pieces you purchase. Current charges may be reviewed here. Priority and Express Mail, UPS and DHL services are also available, and costs are calculated during checkout.
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Can I return my purchase?Â
Absolutely. You may return any merchandise, for any reason, within 30 days of the purchase date for a full refund of the purchase price.
We guarantee all of our pieces to be authentic. If you ever determine that a piece is not authentic, it may be returned for a full refund of the purchase price as well as any associated shipping charges.  |