The basics:
- Howard Johnson by Wyndham celebrates 100th anniversary in 2025
- Offering limited-edition soaps shaped like fried clam strips
- Available at 5 US hotels through September 2025; and online Oct. 3
- Limited quantities available
Howard Johnson by Wyndham is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a unique reimagining of one of the retro motor lodge’s most popular menu items.
Designed to look like the chain’s fried clam strip, limited-edition soaps are now available at select locations across the U.S. and for purchase online next month, the Parsippany-based hotel franchise said in a Sept. 16 press release.
According to Howard Johnson, the item is infused with lemon, sea salt and “just a hint of butter” in “homage to the butter soaked rolls the strips were once served with.”
For the next three weeks, guests staying at one of five hotels (Anaheim, Arlington, Lima, Ocala and Portsmouth) can request a complimentary box of soap at the front desk by mentioning the code words “fried clams” upon checking in.
Up to 10 boxes will be available per hotel, each distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, Howard Johnson said. The chain noted the offer is only available to guests who made their hotel reservation prior to Sept. 16.
For those who aren’t traveling this month, the soaps will be available for purchase starting Oct. 3 at noon. Bars will cost $19.25 each before tax.
Hojo.com will sell only 100 boxes — and there is a limit of one per household, Howard Johnson said.
‘Meaningful journeys’
Marissa Yoss, head of marketing for the chain, said “Howard Johnson is a brand woven into America’s cultural fabric and beloved by millions for generations. As we celebrate 100 years, our limited-edition fried clam soap is a fun, nostalgic tribute to the brand’s storied past and a playful nod to the retro-modern, family-friendly spirit that continues defining our hotels today.”
The business began in 1925 when Howard Deering Johnson opened a soda fountain in a corner pharmacy in Quincy, Mass. From there, Johnson expanded into roadside stands, full-service restaurants and, eventually, the iconic, orange-roofed hotels that made the brand a staple of American travel.
While the restaurant business is no longer operating, the brand has about 135 hotels in the U.S. Globally, it has just under 300 sites.
HoJo is now in its third decade under the ownership of Wyndham. The brand aims to offer guests an experience that blends nostalgia with modern comfort.
Wyndham’s portfolio of 25 chains also includes Days Inn, Ramada, AmericInn, Super 8, La Quinta, Hawthorn Suites and Trademark Collection.
Anthony Pizzuto, brand leader for Howard Johnson, shared, “For the last 100 years, the HoJo brand has been synonymous with family road trips, celebrations, and everyday moments turned into lifelong memories. It’s a testament to the legacy of our founder, Howard Deering Johnson, and a powerful reminder that the most meaningful journeys are the ones we share with others.”
