Who remembers Lum's restaurants?
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| Lum's in Ft. Lauderdale 1966 - Photo Credit Wikipedia |
This is the exact Lum's I remember when I was a kid. I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in the 60's. Lum's was the special place to go out to eat. They had world famous hotdogs that were steamed in beer. The original Lum's was founded in 1956 in Miami. They grew to over 400 locations throughout the United States over the years. Sadly, only two locations currently remain, one in Bellevue Nebraska and another that surprisingly just opened two years ago in Seeknok Massachusetts.
I remember it being a special treat to go there when I was little, but don't ever recall eating at or even seeing a Lum's restaurant beyond childhood, even though I know they were still around.
How about the old A&W Restaurants...
I remember going to A&W being special too. It was so cool to park and have the carhops bring out your tray and hook it to the side of the car - and the root beer was really a special treat back then!
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| Photo Credit - Nostalgia and Now |
Until I did a little research I would have never guessed that in the 70's A&W had more franchises than Mcdonald's, but A&W has actually been around since the 1920s believe it or not. I can't remember the last time I saw an A&W but I know they are still around. Anyone have any near you? Do they still have drive up service?
Last but not least for today are the old Howard Johnson's Restaurants...
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| Photo Credit - Appsense.com |
I only have one thing to say - fried clams! Ok I lied, I have two things to say - fried clams and coffee ice cream. Please tell me everyone has had Howard Johnson's fried clams and coffee ice cream. Oh how I wish I could travel back in time and have a big plate of those fried clams right now! There's nobody that could ever make them the way Howard Johnson's did!
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| Photo Credit - Google Images |
Howard Johnson's was also established was back in the 1920s, way before my time, but I do remember it well growing up. I don't recall having any in my immediate area, but it was always our go to place and something I always looked forward to when we were traveling. Remember those neon signs? From what I've read, as of this time last year only three Howard Johnson's Restaurants remain. I wonder if they are still aqua and orange? I'd love to find out.
Thanks for taking this little walk down memory lane with me. What were your favorite restaurants when you were growing up?
It's always fun taking a stroll down memory lane. I did that with my April blog posts for the Blogging From A to Z Challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of Lum's, but the first ones were way before my time.
Susanne
PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER
Hey Suzanne, The first ones were before my time too but close enough that I remember them as a small child.
DeleteI don't think we had any Howard's or Lum's up here at any point in time, unless they were gone before I was born. But we do have A&W's last I checked, there are a few not far from here.
ReplyDeleteNoooo! Everyone should have known Howard Johnson's, Lum's not as much. Howard Johnson's is still around now but it's nothing more than a big hotel chain and nothing like it was in the old days :(
DeleteWe had Howard Johnson here and it was good. We have a Friendly's restaurant that still does the fried clams and I do love them. Instead of A & W we had Dogs and Suds and it's still around though not as good as it once was. Trips down memory lane are a good thing now and then.
ReplyDeleteI remember Friendly's too but not with any passion like Howard Johnson's. Trips down memory lane are definitely a good thing :)
DeleteOh my gosh I do remember Howard Johnson's - and the Friendly restaurants. A blast from the past! Love, sandie
ReplyDeleteHoward Johnson's was the best!!
DeleteLoved HoJo's! They were everywhere 'back in the day'!!! I took swimming lessons in winter at the one in Hyannis and we stopped at them along the highways on all trips. There's a Lum's in Seekonk? Gotta check it out some day.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you remember HoJo's! According to Wikipedia there is a Lum's - can't promise it will be anything like it was back in the days I remember it from.
DeleteI remember A&W Rootbeer Stands. That is what we called them back then. We always bought our daughter Lynda a baby beer in a small mug and by the way she stood in the seat of the car between us. No car seats back then. I think there may still be one or two A & W rootbeer stands in San Antonio, but not sure.
ReplyDeleteYep Paula they started as little stands and then branched out into drive in restaurants similar to today's Sonic restaurants. I think they went to the typical fast food type places after that from the photos I looked up. Either way the root beer became a lot less special once it was sold in grocery stores in the can. It was having it served in the glass at the drive up that made it taste so good!
DeletePS - I remember those "baby beers" too. I'm sure that's probably what I had from back in the days I remember the A&W. I also remember no car seats and other funny little details like watching the road from the little rust holes in the floor of my mom's car!
DeleteNever heard of Lums, Martha. Interesting that they had so many of them too! Yes definitely A&W with car service and you are right, the root beer was so good! There was an A&W inside restaurant when we lived in Billings, Montana but not car service. I have heard of Howard Johnson's restaurants but never ate at one. Cool that you are going to possibly record things from your childhood; I think the older we get (but we aren't old yet) the more we like to reflect back on those younger times of our lives. I know I do.
ReplyDeleteLOL with a favorite restaurant of ours, McDonald's. It was so cool going through the drive through and sitting in the car and then afterwards we'd go over to Dairy Queen :)
have a great Sunday!
betty
Thanks Betty. I didn't remember Lum's at all either until I started thinking of childhood things and started googling. When I happened across that photo I posted I remembered it like it was yesterday! So weird!!
DeleteCan't believe you never ate at a Howard Johnson's, they were the most popular chain in our day. Maybe you did and it just wasn't memorable for you?
I definitely think I will start posting more from my past, at least here and there. I always wanted to write a little life story for my children but fear I'll never find the time. What better way than to do it on my blog? :)
I could never forget Howard Johnson's and those fried clams! I was a waitress one, in college, and served up plenty of them! lol Also, loved A&W, but didn't have a Lum's. Love your header pic!
ReplyDeleteHi Marguerite! How's life in Cajun country?! My first thought was that you were so lucky to work there and eat as many fried clams as you wanted to! Did you eat so many that you grew tired of them? Nah, couldn't happen ;)
DeleteI enjoyed your blast from the past!
ReplyDeleteI often find myself reminiscing old events, moments, people, and places. It makes me feel connected to a dimension of myself that, although it might feel it's gone lost sometimes, is still there.
I live in New York and I haven't seen any of those restaurants around...
Cute blog:)
Am now a follower from First Loves Bloghop.
You're welcome to visit my blog anytime!
Hi Jay, thanks for stopping by! There are only a few of those restaurants left in the US now although all were popular back in the 60s and 70s - which just reminded me just how old I am, lol! On my way over to visit...
DeleteI did a Blast from the Past for the A to Z with music,
ReplyDeleteI am not familiar with things you remember living on the otherside of the pond.
But it was very interesting to read and look at the pictures,
Yvonne.
Yvonne, I had wondered if there were any of these restaurants over in the UK or not. Guess that answered my question :)
DeleteHoward Johnson's fried clams. LOL, I thought I soley owned the memory rights to that legend!
ReplyDeleteHi Jane, I'm sure anyone who was around back in those days would feel the same way - they would have to wouldn't they?! You don't have a blog linked to your profile. Can you leave me a link. Thanks :)
DeleteI don't have a blog. I did a few years ago but I ended up deleting it as I found it too stressful to upkeep! LOL
DeleteI can relate! Thanks for visiting me and be sure to let me know if you ever start up a new blog :)
DeleteYou know, I feel kind of cheated that restaurants like this were before my time. We actually have 2 A&W's here in town (an actual restaurant - although not with drive up service - and one in the food court). My mum has told me how much fun they used to be, and how she went when she was younger, and took my brother when he was little (he's 10 years older than I am, so they were still around!). I've never heard of Lum's or Howard Johnson's, but maybe they're an American thing? I'm in Canada. Or maybe they were just all gone before I came around. As a product of the 80s, my favorite restaurant was McDonalds, but it was more for the playland than the food! My mum and dad would take me every Thursday night while my brother was at Sea Cadets, so it was a special thing for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting my blog, commenting, and following. I'm following you now, too. I am going to post a Linky for this week's Flashback Fridays, and I really do hope you participate - a post like this one would be perfect, and it's so much fun to read. :-)
That's for popping over Marie. It is a shame that you missed those days, times were so different back then. I'm pretty sure Lum's and Hojo's were only in the US. I'm looking forward to doing more blast from the past posts to link up on Fridays at your place :)
DeleteAs a kid, my favorite restaurant was this place called FURRS. I don't even think they are around anymore. But I liked it when I was young. Now I'd probably hate it.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, that's one I haven't heard of. I know what you're saying about probably hating it now. The places I mentioned are special because of the childhood memories but I don't remember a thing about the food except for Hojos - and those really were the worlds best fried clams :)
DeleteFun post! I remember a Lum's in our mall years ago. And Howard Johnson's, could never forget the clams or that blue and orange building! No A&W. Nice trip down memory lane :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol, it's always enjoyable to walk down memory lane don't you think? :)
DeleteI remember the A&W root beer! Now, I want one -lol! The floats were so tasty!
ReplyDeleteI also can remember seeing those Howard Johnson signs!
The only time I really remember the past is when someone brings it up and a cord is struck; otherwise it doesn't come to mind. I'm sure I won't be one of the people that can laugh and joke with the company when they say, you remember when.....
Hi Betty, I don't usually think much about the past either, don't know what's got me thinking so much of things lately!
Deletelovely pictures and post
ReplyDeleteThanks Torviewtoronto. It's great to see you again! :)
DeleteGreat memories! I moved to FL (Vero Beach) in 1965, right out of high school. My first job was as an A&W carhop. I loved it!!
ReplyDeleteHoward Johnsons - same memories but I'll add one, blueberry pancakes. Yum!
I remember Lum's but I don't remember eating there.
Thanks for the post!
That's so neat that you were a carhop at A&W. I was trying to remember, did they wear roller skates? Thanks for visiting Donna. I'm on my way over to visit you now...
DeleteNot the one I worked at...that might have more been a California thing? LOL! BTW, let me know if you Twitter so I can add you.
DeleteWhen I was a kid in the 70s I can remember anytime we had to go to Louisville we would stop on the way home at the A&W in Valley Station, Kentucky. I loved those frosted mugs of root beer, and it was such a treat to have them bring them out and attach that tray to the window! Thanks for the memories. That very A & W was still in business until about a year ago.
ReplyDeleteSpecial things sure were a lot more simple when we were young!
DeleteDefinitely remember Lums, they had one near Regency Mall in Jacksonville, FL when I grew up in the 70's.
ReplyDeleteNever saw and A & W's until after 2000 when we moved to TN.
HoJo's - I remember seeing these as we traveled to and from North Carolina. Stuckey's too, remember those?
Of course I remember Stuckey's too! We traveled from Florida to Tennessee every summer when I was growing up, it seems like there was a Stuckey's restaurant at every stop along the highway! I wonder if they are still around?
DeleteI remember all of those excepts Lum's. We did have PINK's though. http://www.pinkshollywood.com/pgz/greeting.html
ReplyDelete