Per information from the Restaurant Ware Collectors Network, John P. Harding moved as proprietor of the Planters Hotel in Chicago (1912-22) to opening his own chain of grills/sandwich shops under the name Harding Hotel Company to - in 1928 - opening more restaurants under the name John P. Harding Restaurant Company.

It is believed that the logo on this mug would have been the first made for the latter business. The logo eventually segued into "Harding's" and included a dozen restaurants within Chicago's Loop.