restaurant chain
A chain store or retail chain is a retail outlet in which several locations share a brand, central management and standardized business practices. They have come to dominate the retail and dining markets and many service categories, in many pa ...
located primarily in the
Southeast
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
and
Southern United States
The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...
along major highways. It was headquartered in Bayard, Florida. At the chain's peak there were over 60 Horne's locations, but today only one original restaurant remains. Many restaurant locations featured diner-style sit-down service as well as lodging,
Texaco
Texaco, Inc. ("The Texas Company") is an American oil brand owned and operated by Chevron Corporation. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owned the Havoline motor oil brand. Texaco was an independent company unt ...
gas stations, gift shops, and an ice cream bar, creating a one-stop shop atmosphere. Since many locations were on highways, many Horne's restaurants were open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
History
Early days
In the early 1930s, Bob Horne and his family owned and operated "Horne's Beauty Rest Cabins", a motel located near
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
. When Horne was 22, he began working at a
Stuckey's
Stuckey's is a convenience store in the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwestern United States. known for its pecan log rolls and kitschy souvenirs. Additionally, Stuckey's sells candy, apparel, and souvenirs, and other products online.
Stuckey's ...
in
Eastman, Georgia
Eastman is a city in Dodge County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,962 at the 2010 census. Named after one of the founders who contributed a site and paid for the county courthouse, the city was established in 1871, and is the county ...
, where he made his own candy for the restaurant. After a few years working there, he decided to create his own restaurant and candy shop. On October 4, 1948, Bob Horne founded his first store, located a short distance from the Beauty Rest Cabin. The original concept was to have the stores along major highways and sell candies, nuts, and souvenirs to travelers. Bob Horne's father Alton Irving Horne became secretary of the company. In 1950, "Horne's Enterprises" began a $2 million expansion plan after selling 235,000 shares of common stock of the company. The expansion also saw the addition of a 25-seat counter grill to many of the restaurants. The grills would later be known as "Circus Grills" because of their circus-inspired theme.
As he expanded the chain, Horne started to include other amenities to attract tourists along the highway. He later added motels to many of the restaurants to create "Horne's Motor Lodge and Restaurant." On May 7, 1953, the company was incorporated in Florida as "Horne's of Bayard, Inc."."Horne's enterprises posts gains by feeding the hungry traveler" (1963, Feb 04). ''Barron's National Business and Financial Weekly'', p.24. By 1956, 8 years after being founded, the chain had expanded to 17 locations in eight states. Horne also began having his restaurants' roofs painted bright yellow to attract customers, and erecting tall signs outside the restaurants to be seen from the highway. In 1963, over 1,250 signs had been built along the highway to advertise Horne's. By the time Horne was 30, he was a millionaire. By 1963 Horne's had 44 units mostly along the eastern seaboard. During the same year, Horne's sales rose to $9.2 million, an increase from $5.7 million during the previous year.
Purchase by Greyhound
In 1964,
The Greyhound Corporation
Viad Corp provides experiential leisure travel and face-to-face events in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United Arab Emirates via two divsions: GES and Pursuit.
Pursuit (formed in 2017) includes travel attractio ...
purchased nearly all the chain's stock from Bob Horne for $14,000,000. Harold L. Lumpkins, controller of much of Horne's stock, said, "This is primary to enable Horne's to expand at a more rapid rate. Greyhound has all the money they need and are looking for diversification and we are looking for expansion." When Horne sold his company, he had 55 restaurants in 15 states. After the purchase by Greyhound, John W. Teets became president of the enterprise. Several years after selling the restaurant chain, Horne would later go on to develop Powder Horn Mountain in
Watauga County, North Carolina
Watauga County ( ) from the North Carolina Collection's website at the with his wife, Penny. Greyhound placed Horne's under the Greyhound Food Management, Inc. subsidiary. In 1965 there were 60 Horne's restaurants and six motor lodges. In 1965, Horne's along with "Post House Restaurants", another subsidiary of Greyhound, were serving 275 million meals a year.
After only a few years of ownership, on April 30, 1969, Greyhound sold Horne's to Formco, who owned the "Stand N' Snack" chain. When Stand N' Snack acquired Horne's from Greyhound, the company had 19 franchised motor lodges. After the purchase, the headquarters of Horne's was moved to Topeka, Kansas, but it continued to operate as a separate entity from "Stand N' Snack".
In 1967 the original "Horne's Beauty Rest Cabin" closed, but later reopened as "Bayard Antique Village", which remains open today. In the late 1960s, Horne's expanded into Canada, where three branches were built.
Decline
By the late 1970s, highway travel became less profitable for the chain and it began to lose business. On April 29, 1980, Key Energy Enterprises acquired six Horne's locations in Florida. In 1981, the
Atlantic National Bank
The Atlantic National Bank was an American bank based in Jacksonville, Florida. It existed from 1903 until 1985, when it was acquired by First Union. Subsequently, First Union changed its name to Wachovia Corporation when it also acquired Wachov ...
took over "Horne's International Inc.", ending the Horne's chain. In 1982, the last company-owned restaurant closed. By 1986, the trademark on "Horne's Motor Lodge Restaurant" had expired.
Today
Only one restaurant remains open under independent ownership. The
Port Royal, Virginia
Port Royal is an incorporated town in Caroline County, Virginia, United States. The population was 126 at the 2010 census.
Port Royal was established in the mid-17th century in the Colony of Virginia primarily as a port at the head of the navig ...
Horne's which still features almost all of the original designs and look of the restaurant is the last true remaining restaurant of the former chain. It also serves as a tourist destination for travelers and families stationed at Fort A.P. Hill. This location was built in 1960 and still features the original equipment used for making the milk shakes. In Florence, South Carolina, a former Horne's still bearing the name but with no connection to the original restaurant remained open until 2013. None of the Horne's Motor Lodges remain open today. The last motel to close its doors, in Ocala, FL, was demolished in early December 2014.
Menu
Horne's sold a variety of meals, including the "Circus Burger" which was a hamburger with coleslaw. Another popular item was the fried chicken. Horne's also served charbroiled hamburgers, steak, home-baked pecan pies, and breakfast all day long. The candies sold included pecan rolls, pralines, forty-two varieties of kettle fresh candies, and chocolates.
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"''