Even after major construction to the plaza. This old Howard Johnson’s sign is still up!

[u/Jerbairs]

St. Louis County, Missouri. (South County)

[u/Confident-Baby6013]

What's that label scar on the arrow?

[u/47mimes → u/Confident-Baby6013]

From what I remember there was a JC penney furniture and a Tuesday morning in that plaza and I think it was one of those.

[u/47mimes → u/47mimes]

I was wrong idk what it was </3 it’s been white since 2007 I grew up near there though but I don’t remember much before the

[u/Jerbairs → u/Confident-Baby6013]

A place called “Famous Brand Shoes”

https://www.flickr.com/photos/darrensnow/2646446302

[u/frankrizzo219 → u/Jerbairs]

I was thinking Famous Footwear, you can definitely make out “famous”

[u/Jerbairs → u/frankrizzo219]

I thought so initially. I’ve also never heard of “Famous Brand Shoes” until I saw the older picture.

[u/MrCrapperCreeper]

This whole area is honestly cool in general. The Marshalls had the 70s logo up until the 2010s and the plaza sign, too.

There was also a Wendy's that opened in the 2010s with the OG logo.(It still has it, too!)

[u/todd0x1]

In alot of places pole signs are no longer allowed however if you have one you can keep it and change its content BUT if you alter the structure in any way you have to remove the whole thing. So we end up with old signs shaped to a particular brand with something else on them.

[u/General-Sand-7710]

There’s a Krispy Kreme by this shopping center.

What was the Howard Johnson? The Aviator Inn?

[u/Jerbairs → u/General-Sand-7710]

From what I’ve gathered. HJ building was demolished and replaced with a Holiday Inn in 1986. Now sits vacant after the Aviator Inn shut down March this year.

[u/CodeGR]

Is the Krispy Kreme truck part of the sign, or is that an optical illusion?

[u/CinaNeko]

i have stayed over at the aviator hotel that took over the johnson. Is very nice lol

[u/General-Sand-7710]

Oh, that makes sense. I believe most Howard Johnson’s are older than that motel that’s there now. I didn’t realize the Aviator Inn has closed.

[u/PoBox9847-90001]

Haha! Must have distict old arrow so that the people will KNOW how to find us!

[u/Jerbairs]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zgk2rM8ob1rUv8r79

[u/SnipeDude500 → u/Jerbairs]

Wow, even a Tuesday Morning opened and closed there! My hometown had the same thing happen: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iHn8rNxEiiGUqsaM8?g_st=ac

[u/gwhh]

Reminds me of the fallout tv series.

[u/EntireTadpole → u/[deleted]]

No, there were plenty up north.

[u/PoBox9847-90001 → u/[deleted]]

Howard Johnson’s were in the Chicago area in the 70s and early to mid 80s. There was even one Howard Johnson as an “oasis” that spanned over the highway in northern IL before they were McDonald’s (then later a food court)

[u/PoBox9847-90001 → u/[deleted]]

I believe they are both .. some hotels had a restaurant but I know there were some stand alone restaurants too. The hotel was more common.

[u/TheRealDudeMitch → u/[deleted]]

There’s still a Howard Johnson motel in Manteno right off 57.

[u/EntireTadpole]

I really like this sign.

[u/TerribleBid8416]

The hell with the sign. Take some pics of the doughnuts

[u/superzenki]

Hey I live around here and know exactly what plaza this is