Did the Southfield New Orleans Mall on 10 Mile used to be a Howard Johnson's?

[Kathleen]

There are similar cupolas on a structure near Jackson Square in New Orleans.

Thank you for the view of the Cafe du Monde! We had our beignets and coffee there once upon a time. Definitely need to get to New Orleans again!!

[Jimaz]

Thank you for the view of the Cafe du Monde! We had our beignets and coffee there once upon a time. Definitely need to get to New Orleans again!!

Yeah, the more I look at it the more convinced I am that the architecture in the OP is based not on Howard Johnson's but rather on the French Market in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Beignets, YUM!