A 'Slice of Roadside Americana' Is Nearly Gone

A "slice of roadside Americana" is almost gone forever, as the second-to-last Howard Johnson's restaurant is slated to close Sept. 6, the AP reports. The restaurant in Bangor, Maine, opened in 1966 as part of the more-than-800-strong franchise of orange-roofed eateries. But come September, this once "dependable place for travelers to park the family car, grab a meal, and spend the night" will be represented only by a final location in Lake George, New York. "It's bittersweet, but it's nothing to be sad about," says a waitress who's worked at the Bangor Howard Johnson's since it opened. "Knowing I have the only one left makes it special," the owner of the Lake George location says. (More Howard Johnson's stories.)