Balance of Food

In the episode aired earlier tonight, Grandpa Abe is told by one of his friends to see a doctor. Abe doesn't want to go. His friend says, "There's a Howard Johnson's next door. You'll get some pie." Sure enough, in the next scene, Abe is at the doctor's with a slice of pie. Now, we theoretically don't know where Springfield is, but it isn't likely near a Howard Johnson's. There are literally a handful of locations remaining, none of which are near California, where "The Simpsons" is recorded. So how did Howard Johnson's get into "The Simpsons"? Perhaps Abe's friend was living in the past, recalling happier memories of a world where Howard Johnson's were plentiful. Yet Abe did have pie. No matter the reason, thanks to "The Simpsons" for giving some props to HoJo's.