Horne's (restaurant) facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Fate | Purchased by Greyhound |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Headquarters | Bayard, Florida |
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Key people
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Robert "Bob" I. Horne |
| Products | Cuisine, novelties, fuel |
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Number of employees
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35 |
Horne's was a popular restaurant chain that served Southern-style food. It was mostly found in the Southeast along big highways. The main office was in Bayard, Florida. At its busiest, Horne's had over 60 locations. Today, only one original restaurant is still open. Many Horne's places offered sit-down dining, places to stay, Texaco gas stations, gift shops, and ice cream. This made them a convenient "one-stop shop" for travelers. Since they were on highways, many Horne's restaurants were open all day, every day.
Contents
History of Horne's Restaurants
Starting the Business
In the early 1930s, Bob Horne and his family owned a motel called "Horne's Beauty Rest Cabins." It was located near Jacksonville, Florida. When Bob Horne was 22, he started working at a Stuckey's in Eastman, Georgia. There, he made his own candy for the restaurant.
After a few years, he decided to open his own restaurant and candy shop. On October 4, 1948, Bob Horne opened his first store. It was a short distance from his family's motel. The first idea was to have stores along major highways. They would sell candies, nuts, and souvenirs to people traveling. Bob Horne's father, Alton Irving Horne, became the company's secretary.
In 1950, "Horne's Enterprises" started a big expansion plan. They sold company shares to get money for this growth. This plan also added small 25-seat counters to many restaurants. These counters later became known as "Circus Grills" because they had a circus theme.
Growing the Chain
As Bob Horne made the chain bigger, he added more things to attract tourists. He later added motels to many of the restaurants. This created "Horne's Motor Lodge and Restaurant." On May 7, 1953, the company officially became "Horne's of Bayard, Inc." in Florida.
By 1956, just eight years after starting, the chain had grown to 17 locations. These were spread across eight different states. Horne also began painting the roofs of his restaurants bright yellow. This was to make them easy to spot for customers. He also put up tall signs outside the restaurants. These signs could be seen from far away on the highway. By 1963, over 1,250 signs had been built to advertise Horne's. By the time Bob Horne was 30, he was a millionaire. In 1963, Horne's had 44 locations, mostly along the East Coast. Sales for Horne's reached $9.2 million that year.
Selling to Greyhound
In 1964, The Greyhound Corporation bought almost all of Horne's stock from Bob Horne. They paid $14 million for it. Harold L. Lumpkins, who managed much of Horne's stock, said this would help Horne's grow faster. Greyhound had a lot of money and wanted to try new types of businesses. When Horne sold his company, it had 55 restaurants in 15 states.
After Greyhound bought the company, John W. Teets became its new president. Bob Horne later went on to develop Powder Horn Mountain in Watauga County, North Carolina. Greyhound put Horne's under its "Greyhound Food Management, Inc." group. In 1965, there were 60 Horne's restaurants and six motor lodges. That same year, Horne's and another Greyhound company served 275 million meals.
After only a few years, Greyhound sold Horne's to Formco on April 30, 1969. Formco owned the "Stand N' Snack" chain. When Stand N' Snack bought Horne's, the company had 19 franchised motor lodges. After this purchase, Horne's main office moved to Topeka, Kansas. However, it still ran as a separate business from "Stand N' Snack."
In 1967, the original "Horne's Beauty Rest Cabin" closed. But it later reopened as "Bayard Antique Village," which is still open today. In the late 1960s, Horne's even expanded into Canada, building three locations there.
The Decline of Horne's
By the late 1970s, highway travel became less profitable for the chain. Horne's started to lose business. On April 29, 1980, Key Energy Enterprises bought six Horne's locations in Florida. In 1981, the Atlantic National Bank took over "Horne's International Inc." This marked the end of the Horne's chain. In 1982, the very last company-owned restaurant closed its doors. By 1986, the special name "Horne's Motor Lodge Restaurant" was no longer protected.
Horne's Today
Only one restaurant still operates under the Horne's name. It is owned independently. The Horne's in Port Royal, Virginia, still looks almost exactly like the original restaurants. It is the last true remaining restaurant from the old chain. It is also a popular stop for travelers and families near Fort A.P. Hill. This location was built in 1960. It even has the original equipment used to make milkshakes.
In Florence, South Carolina, a former Horne's kept the name but had no link to the original chain. It stayed open until 2013. None of the Horne's Motor Lodges are open today. The last motel to close, in Ocala, Florida, was torn down in December 2014.
What Was on the Menu?
Horne's sold many different kinds of meals. One popular item was the "Circus Burger," which was a hamburger with coleslaw. Another favorite was the fried chicken. Horne's also served charbroiled hamburgers and steak. They had homemade pecan pies and served breakfast all day long. The candies they sold included pecan rolls, pralines, and many kinds of fresh candies and chocolates.
Horne's Slogans
"Your Highway Host for Food and Candies"
"Your High Host for One Stop Service"
"Look for the Yellow Roof"
"The Happy Stop Along the Highway"
