Copyright by WTEN - All rights reserved

Nicole Hart - LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - They're not quite at 28 ice cream flavors, but the last standing Howard Johnson's restaurant is up and running and nestled in the heart of Lake George!

The iconic orange roof sticks out along Route 9. As you step inside, the countertops, ice cream bar, restaurant and wood trimmings bring back decades of memories for those who grew up with the fried clams, big breakfasts and milkshakes.

Copyright by WTEN - All rights reserved

Copyright by WTEN - All rights reserved

"I used to work here years ago, and I loved the place and I didn't want to see it get bulldozed, so we're going to keep it going," owner Jonathan LaRock said.

LaRock started his journey at HoJo's in the 1970s. He was a dishwasher and a cook. But when the building was at risk of being torn down, he stepped in to save it.

"It's getting better every week," he said. "More and more people are now realizing it's now reopened. It's been closed for years, but now people are starting to come back know."

Many patrons from near and far walk back into the place that holds so many memories.

"I thought, 'I can't believe this place is open!'" customer Steven Appelbaum said. "That's when I went inside and said let me take pictures of the buffet and all the things that we used to do. It's alive and well."

"I mean people just like to see it," owner Jonathan LaRock said. "It's an old building. It's a historical building now."

While the orange roof, the original wood, and the forest green countertops are all part of the nostalgia, there is still some building left to do.

"We ain't quite up to 28 flavors, yet, but we're getting there," LaRock said.

The Howard Johnson still hosts car shows every Tuesday and fish fries on Fridays.

Starting June 15, all of those favorite ice cream flavors will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!