The First And Last Sambo's Restaurant

Sambo's Restaurants

From SantaBarbara.com :

On June 17, 1957 the first of Sambo's nationwide chain of family restaurants was opened in this very location, right across the street from the beach. The name derived from a combination of the original owners Sam Battistone and Newell Bonette who commonly were referred to as Sam and Bo. When they discovered the book "Little Black Sambo" written by Hellen Bartrum in 1899, they thought it was the perfect match. Today, this original Sambo's is the only one remaining in America.

Another interesting story on this topic is Pancakes and Prejudice.

Comments

[David Blasius]

I was lucky enought to work at a Sambo's Restaurant at 2302 West Beltline hwy. in Madison, Wisconsin. Worked there from 1977 until 1982 when the investment comapny finally closed the doors. Before the investment company bought the chain and destroyed it, Sambo's was a fabulous place to work. It was a place where management appreciated one's hard work and always gave positive feedback. To this day, I am still trying to find memory items such as one year pins or three year pins or asnything that reminds me of my time with this company. Just tried to buy a 1979 Sambo's menu on ebay but was outbid. Sambo's has a very good spot in my heart and memory. We took pride in doing good work and presenting good food. That was why we were number one until the investment company destroyed us.

Dave Blasius

[Kathleen]

Dear David, I used to work for Stan Diemoz and Sam Battistone, Jr. I was an assistant secretary from about 1976 through 1978. I have to agree that restaurant managers received a lot of support and that Sam Jr. and Stan Diemoz were a large part of the good treatment of managers. I really liked that job, but had to move on. I went to go work for Delco after that, which is closed now also (at least in Santa Barbara). I am wondering if you know about the stock certificates at all? I had some, as part of my employment, but they got lost somehow. How would I track them down? They are so old the SEC doesn't even list Sambo's anywhere, and I can't find any agent. Thanks! ...and enjoy your memories. I do.

Kathleen

[scott]

The term "Sambo" has a long and sordid history as an ugly, ugly racist term. It is an offensive derogatory word that connotes condescending stereotypes for African Americans, and in particular African American males. That a Sambos still exists and has customers is abhorent.

[Bob]

The author's name is Helen Bannerman, not Bartrum and Sambo was an Indian boy, not African.

[Leo]

There is nothing wrong with the name "Sambo" If one feels offended by a name then they are just as ignorant as the person who would use it in a racist way.

[Will Von Wizzlepig]

The story does indeed present a troublesome problem: if the story is set in India, then the names are completely fine, and everything seems fine, except for the art- everyone in the story looks like a sterotypical representation of a century-past black person.

If the story is set in Africa (?), well, we all know there are no tigers in Africa, and the author was not writing a story for her children while living in Africa.

Regardless of its intentions or inconsistencies, to a united states citizen, the book certainly looks like it is making fun of black people.

Having good memories of Sambo's is not a celebration of hate unless you intend for it to be so.

Although I am white, I have lived where I was a minority, and have seen how regular old every day words, used in a certain way, become grating. You can't reason your way out of hurting someone's feelings because YOU believe you aren't. Being considerate is a lot of work. Since the word is all but dead anyway, the polite will shy away and the stubborn and insensitve will probably still beat it to death.

[George/Alice]

We were "Fraction-of-the-Action partner/managers" in Sambo's on Center Street in Stockton CA in the '70s. This relationship was hard to come by - it required a $20,000 investment and 6 months' training in Santa Barbara and various other store locations. This was great - we had many loyal employees and customers, and worked our butts off for our 20% of the bottom line. When the corporation went public and the SEC and shareholders realized the "partnership's Fraction-of-the-Action" was cutting into profits, THE CORPORATION DENIED PARTNERSHIPS EXISTED. Consequently, we joined the Modesto, Lodi, Sacramento, and Wenatchee WA partners and filed a class action suit against the corporate giant. OBVIOUSLY THE CORPORATE GIANT WON, and we were bankrupt. As in the pyramid scheme, only those in the earliest development of the "Fraction-of-the-Action" plan recognized any sizeable financial gain. I would be interested to know if any of our former employees, customers or partners are still alive and well!

[Pat Cattin]

Hello, I worked for Sambo's from 1973 to 1978. I started as a cook and became a manager/partner. In my experience racism was never a part of the company. Unfortunately for the founders, the innocent story from years in the past became synonymous with racism. This did not play a role in the demise of the company. The company failed because Sam Battistone Jr. (the founders son and the president of the company at the time) was too close to the New York investment community and not connected with the operations of the company while he was president. Sam wanted to sell the company to either W.R. Grace (who owned Coco’s and a few other restaurants at the time) or Marriot Corporation. Marriot wanted a coffee shop operation they could include in all their hotel projects. Sam was told to get rid of the manager/partners. No buyer of a restaurant corporation wanted built-in partners to muddy up the ownership and control of operations. Sam was clumsy and deceitful in his effort to convert Sambo’s from a manager/partner “mom and pop” type business to a “corporate” type of operation and in the process destroyed the company. Marriot bought Marie Callender’s when Sambo’s failed. I sued Sambo’s in 1977 when I was “fired” from my manager/partner position. I operated a restaurant in Portland at 82nd and Powell. My case was heard in Multnomah County Courthouse in Portland in the Summer of 1981. R.P .Jones was the judge in Superior Court. (Today Mr. Jones is a Federal Court Judge) I sued for fraud. The jury found Sambo’s guilty of fraud and awarded me $225,000 in general damages and $700,000 in punitive damages. (I never got a dime from Sambo’s … I did settle with them for their interest in the leasehold of two restaurants.) There is an article in Time magazine http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,949341,00.html that tells some of the story. Also in the Wall Street Journal July 21, 1981. I am now 28 years older (51) and a lot wiser. I have owned a restaurant business for the last 23 years. I am proud to be able to claim that my little company has out-lasted Sambo’s. I have three restaurants in Puyallup and Tumwater Washington and Great Falls Montana. Sambo’s was a great company with many great people. I learned some valuable lessons from my five years there. I have no regrets. Overall, it is a sad story about a successful and energetic company that had greatness in it’s future that was never obtained. Many good people suffered serious setbacks in their careers and personal lives. Some were so deeply hurt they suffered divorce and I know of at least one death from the overwhelming disappointment of the destruction of the company. My story is just a little slice from Sambo’s history.

Pat Cattin

[Tom McMahon]

Wow. This turns out to be a rather fascinating story --- it would make a great book!

[C. Westa;]

Just going through some old things and I found a stock certificate for Sambo's Restaurant 500 shares. Does anybody know if the stocks are worth anything/

[matt]

i'm looking for a man by the name of art kelly who used to be a manager at sambos in salinas in the early 1980's if any body can help me please e-mail me at ashleymatt_5150@yahoo.com it would be greatly appreciated thank you very much.

[matt]

i'm looking for a man by the name of art kelly who used to be a manager at sambos in salinas in the early 1980's if any body can help me please e-mail me at ashleymatt_5150@yahoo.com it would be greatly appreciated thank you very much.

[Robert Menschel]

I too remember Sambo's Restaurants, mostly fondly. I worked in their corporate office MIS department from 1976 to 1982. My memory and impression of its failure is very similar to Pat Cattin's.

re: Stock certificats -- it's my understanding that when the company actually went bankrupt, and then through the bankruptcy procedings, those stock certificates became worthless. Several of my co-workers had invested in the stock as its value dropped, hoping to make good profits if/when the company rebounded. It never did rebound, and they lost whatever they had gambled.

re: Pension plan -- I'm nearing retirement age, and if I remember correctly, I was fully vested in the pension plan. The money probably isn't much, but an extra $100 or so each month will be helpful. Does anyone know where I can find out who is responsible for that pension plan?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Bob Menschel

[Alice (Tucker) Gibson]

It's been fun hearing from you former Sambo's people. And you're right, Tom McMahon, the saga of Sambo's Restaurants would be an interesting read - unfortunately someone with a better memory than mine will be the author! I do recall that Sam Battistone Jr. bought the Utah Jazz (his wife was reportedly Mormon), and was involved with some Hawaiian football team and the Mrs. America contest. That would explain where some of the corporation $$$ went. The shredding has long since been completed.

Getting back to "Little Black Sambo", I recently saw a very dusty 78 telling the story at a garage sale with a price tag that was not in my range - I doubt that it sold, if anyone is interested.

[Bill Hensley]

I live in the East Bay near San Francisco where several former Sambo's are now Baker's Square. My father in law and I where having coffee and trying to remember what these restaurants were named after Sambo's and before Baker's Square. Can anyone help me on this.

[Bob Spoerl]

Talk about a blast from the past, I too worked at the Sambo's at 2302 West Beltline Hwy. in Madison, WI. Barb and Terry were the managers at the time. I'm pretty sure I remember Dave Blasius. I also worked at the one in Monona, WI under various managers including Russ Fitzgerald. I dishwashed my way through college there from 79-81. As a dishwasher, I was the default guy for whatever unpleasant mess happened. Never got any pins but I have a coffee cup. Have a bunch of table tent cards I salvaged when they threw them out. I never knew the story behind the demise of the Sambo's chain. I knew "Jolly Tiger" was the alternate name if Sambo's was deemed objectionable.

[Sherry]

I worked at the Sambo's on Hwy 101 in Newport, Oregon in 1978. Managers name was George (something or other)! Used to frequent the Sambo's on Aurora Ave and 205th in Edmonds/Seattle area of Washington. My then husband cooked there. I still have one of the t-shirts, a tie ring and one of the Sambo's enamel bracelets that were put out. Times, they do change! Thanks for the memories!

[Rod]

The sambos in my area changed their names to (seasons) before becoming bakers square.

[David]

Sambo's was a favorite in Biloxi, Mississippi.
I think now it's a Denny's..
God bless the south.. Dees

[tim dennis]

I remember when there was a Sambos Restaurant on
Parker Road here in St. Louis, Mo. I believe it was around 74-79. Used to go there after church just about every sunday night when I was a little kid. From what I can remember , I aboslutely loved the place. Wish it was still around. Would love to see if it going to be revived or not. If you do, PLEASE include the original logo with it. Wouldnt be the same without it!!!!!!!

[tim dennis]

I remember when there was a Sambos Restaurant on
Parker Road here in St. Louis, Mo. I believe it was around 74-79. Used to go there after church just about every sunday night when I was a little kid. From what I can remember , I absolutely loved the place. Wish it was still around. Would love to see if it going to be revived or not. If you do, PLEASE include the original logo with it. Wouldnt be the same without it!!!!!!!

[Myra]

I went to Sambo's in Tucson, AZ in the 70's. It was a great place for college students because I think it was open 24 hours. I remember going there for coffee at all hours. I have a couple of Sambo's coffee coasters that I came across after my most recent move. They have to be at least 30 years old. I always loved the story as a child and thought the restaurant was cute - with the pictures of the tigers on the wall. I do understand the negative connotations, but the story is a good one and kids still love it.
Would be intinterested in hearing from anyone who has been to the Sambo's in Tucson.

[don86]

I distinctly remember having dinner at a Sambo's in Tennessee in 1978. I still have memories of it because the food was fabulous.
I'm in Malaysia now and still yearn for simple, good old fashioned American food, cooked well.

[aggelina Battistone]

Dear cousin Chad. I am so proud of your work. I have been thinking about sambo's for the past. I am so glad that you have been taking over grampa sam's place.

your cousin
angelina

[carrie]

A friend and I were talking the other day about Sambo's in and around Fort Wayne, Indiana. I remember one in New Haven, but can anyone tell me where the others were located? I really enjoyed eating there when I was a child into early teens.