RESTAURANTS: The Highwayman

To motorists in most Eastern states, the orange tile roof of a Howard Johnson's restaurant is almost as familiar as a gas pump. The Johnson chain, which got its start near Boston 24 years ago, now stretches along highways from Maine to Florida, has outlets scattered all the way to Wisconsin. This year its 355 "stores" will serve 250 million customers and gross $150 million; they constitute the largest roadside restaurant chain in the world. But Founder Howard Johnson, a husky 54-year-old who spends as much time on the road as his best customers, is not satisfied. His goal...

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