# Could You revive a Dead Restaurant Chain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2004, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188 "2004-10-20T07:41:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/1 "2004-10-20T07:41:03Z")
The thread about the 70’s Fast Food chains got me wondering…couldyou take the name and logo of a long-dead chain and revive it? Take HOWARD JOHNSONS-they were the first nation-wide restaurant chain. They began in the 1930’s and by the 1960’s were common .near the interstae highways, from Maine to Florida. Hard times came later-they were sold to a British conglomerate, who put them out of business. The last HoJos closed in 1994 (Greenfield, MA). They had great ice cream, though the food was nothing special. Anyway, is there anything to prevent me from taking the name and logo, and using it for a restaurant? Of course, it has been a long time…still, the name stillhas some recognition. And,i really like the old LUM’s chain…their thing was hot dogs steamed in beer (and beer). i remember their 28 oz.“frosty mug” beer…that was a great deal! Anybody know if anyone stillowns the name? And would the owners of the copyright/tradmarks want anything for their use? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/2 "2004-10-20T07:43:34Z")
HoJo’s still exists as a corporate entity, so you couldn’t use that name without permission. Really, that’s all that is required, simply getting permission to use the name, although that would probably cost you some pretty significant royalties depending upon whether you paid for the rights or just bought the name outright. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/3 "2004-10-20T13:54:32Z")
If you buy a name or the remnants of a company that has gone under, don’t you also buy any debts or obligations that the owe? And while I’m sure you can get around that with a good enough lawyer, the one thing you won’t get past is the public’s opinion of that name, based on its performance before you owned it. Yeah, you like the name Lum’s and their beer-soaked hot dogs (hmm, beer \*and \* hotdog in one hand) but what caused them to go under in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![The\_world\_s\_most\_deadliest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@The\_world\_s\_most\_deadliest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_world_s_most_deadliest)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/4 "2004-10-20T14:29:59Z")
We have a Lum’s restaurant around here - [http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant\_Review-g47924-d450785-Reviews-Lums\_Restaurant-Horseheads\_New\_York.html](http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g47924-d450785-Reviews-Lums_Restaurant-Horseheads_New_York.html) Too bad there’s no picture. I wonder if its the same one you guys are talking about - this one is still in business. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/5 "2004-10-20T14:47:46Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > The last HoJos closed in 1994 (Greenfield, MA). What about the Howard Johnson’s in Times Square NY? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/6 "2004-10-20T15:03:07Z")
[Howard Johnson](http://www.hojo.com/HowardJohnson/control/home) is still alive and well as a hotel chain, even though they may not have any restaurants left. I’m sure that in any business venture that has gone under, there is some individual or corporation somewhere who still retains the rights to the name, logo, etc. of the company. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/7 "2004-10-20T15:03:17Z")
According to [this site](http://autoage.org/list.html), there are nine surviving Howard Johnson’s restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/8 "2004-10-20T15:03:47Z")
Howard Johnson’s is out of business? Better tell [these guys](http://www.hojo.com). And if you’re not sure we’re talking about the same bunch (i.e., restaurants vs. hotels) check out [this](http://www.fact-index.com/h/ho/howard_johnsons.html). ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/9 "2004-10-20T16:11:33Z")
Just don’t bring back Winky’s. Please. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/10 "2004-10-20T16:18:54Z")
Yes, but it would require consulting the forbidden _Restro-nomicon_. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/11 "2004-10-20T17:09:22Z")
> [@vibrotronica](#): > > Yes, but it would require consulting the forbidden _Restro-nomicon_. You’re \*\*killing \*\* me! 😃 Is that the book that contains Howard Johnson’s \*real \* name? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/12 "2004-10-20T17:11:24Z")
I want to open up a **Sambo’s**! ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/13 "2004-10-20T17:26:40Z")
**BMalion** , funny you should mention [Sambo’s](http://www.cnn.com/US/9801/28/sambo.revival/) ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/14 "2004-10-20T17:32:42Z")
There’s a Ho Jo’s restaurant next to my hometown in [Lake Placid](http://hojoland.homestead.com/pics.html) that is still open. ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/15 "2004-10-20T19:17:23Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > If you buy a name or the remnants of a company that has gone under, don’t you also buy any debts or obligations that the owe? Nope - the name can be sold separately from the company - there have been a few instances of a trademark being sold to a different company - for example, the Pan Am name and logo is currently owned by [Pan Am Clipper Connection](http://www.flypanam.com/), a small airline that has no connection to the long-time global carrier, but which bought the name some years after the original airline went bankrupt. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/16 "2004-10-20T19:38:49Z")
Okay, anybody seen a Zantigo’s anywhere? Used to be the absolute best Mexican fast-food until Pepsico bought them out & closed all the restaurants. They owned Taco Hell at the time. I hate Taco Hell. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/17 "2004-10-21T01:36:54Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > Okay, anybody seen a Zantigo’s anywhere? Used to be the absolute best Mexican fast-food until Pepsico bought them out & closed all the restaurants. They owned Taco Hell at the time. I hate Taco Hell. How 'bout Taco Belch? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/18 "2004-10-21T02:35:55Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > How 'bout Taco Belch? Or Toxic Bell? (I’m still a Taco Viva fan from way back in the '80s.) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/19 "2004-10-21T02:36:14Z")
Bring back [Bill Knapp’s](http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/082102/bus_082102044.shtml)! ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-revive-a-dead-restaurant-chain/270188/20 "2004-10-21T03:08:27Z")
We used to have a Bill Knapps next door to the library. I never went in there, but I understand that the place was extremely popular with senior citizens. And I still sometimes refer to a certain chain of fast-food restaurants as “Taco Smell.” They’ve gotten better recently, however. A year or two ago they replaced the mystery meat sludge with something that actually looks kinda like beef. Sorta.