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

[Bob Hamilton]

My father who passed away (age 84) this year loved Sambos. He took us there often as children for the huge pancakes which we never could finish eating. I think the location was San Leandro, CA. When they started tearing the restaurant down in the '50s, my father made a deal with the owner to purchase one of the large signs on the wall. It stayed in his living room ever since. I now have the sign in my garage. I do not know it's value or how to find out. I could put it on eBay, but would prefer that it stay with a Sambo Restaurant employee. Sambo's was a great restaurant with great people, and this sign belongs to one of them. Offer a fair price and it is yours. If I do not hear from anyone I will put it on Ebay the first of December 2005.

Bob Hamilton
San Carlos, CA

[Don Kuper]

Both my older brothers worked at Sambo's from the day it opened on Vista Ave here in Boise, Idaho. I believe it was around 1970 or 71 (as I was too young at the time for employment.) What I remember most was the bottomless cup of coffee for 10 cents. Sambo's was a great place to eat. The original building is still there but it has changed hands so many times I can't remember what it was right after Sambo's... I think Denny's. I'm 47 now and I can still remember the champagne party on opening night. Me being about 12 at the time, I had Coke.

[Leon Brockinton]

My first job was in 1973 washing dishes at Sambo's in North Little Rock, Arkansas. I became a cook about a year later and worked there throughout High School. After leaving Sambo's I would still go there almost every day for many years. I even met my Wife there. WOW what great memories.

[Larry Davenport]

I used to love Sambo's silver dollar pancakes and they had the best hamburgers, fries, and shakes. My family moved from So. Ca. to Lacey, Washington in the late 60's and I was thrilled that my new home town had a Sambos. Then it became a Seasons and sucked.

[Doug Fetters]

If anyone remembers me a the Sambos in either Canoga Park, Sepulveda, or Granada Hills, California, and wants to get in touch, send me an e-mail.

Best,

Doug Fetters

dougsweb@yahoo.com

[John R. Larson]

A friend of mine cooked at the Sambo's on Grand Ave. (near Knott's Berry Farm) in Buena Park, CA while in college (in the mid 60's). We started out by drinking gallons of coffee while doing homework there. The manager knew us and that we both worked at another restaurant, so when an opening came up, he offere John the job. So, John D. Hunt, if you happen to stumble on this message, give me shout!

Or, for that matter, anyone else that drank coffee at that time!

I remember them changing the name and we knew of the negative connotations, but never really worried about it. I was the minority in the neighborhood where I lived.

If anyone should write a book, let me know as I would defineately be interested in a copy.

[Stephen]

As I recall one of the Sambo's in Fort Wayne, IN was at the intersection of N Clinton St. and Coldwater Road, very near the Glenbrook Square Mall. I remember eating there as a child. It was razed many years ago after it became, for a time, Tsing Tsao I think.

[Nancy]

Does anyone know the receipe for the special sauce they put on their hamburgers. Everyone tells me it's just thousand island dressing, but it's not, believe when I say I've tasted every thousand island dressing there is to be tasted. When dining at Sambo's my friends would always order late night breakfast, but I would always get the hamburger with extra sauce please.

[Luis Alvarez]

Hi everyone I worked for Sambos 101 in Santa Barbara Ca. When I was 14 in 1973, I started as diswasher and then I learned how to cook, that was the wonderful time of my life I met alot of people from all states, you know my dream is to open a restaurant with the same menu someday, my favorite order was the texas steak I missed those times and I will like to have a old menu so everytime when I read it I will remember the best time of my life thanks for all the people who worked for Sambos if somebody has one old menu from 1976 I will buy from you for the good price please let me know my e-mail is: LuisMazul@yahoo.com

[Ray D.]

Sambo's.... Where I had my first cup of coffee. :-) I was hooked after that! Panama City, Florida on Highway 98. Since it's been ten years since I lived there, I'd surmise the building has been deleted and replaced with something else. I remember that very distinct building design and know of many Village Inn's that are now residing in former Sambo's Buildings. I too remember the delicious pancakes that IHOP could never even come close.

[Bill Undewood]

I remeber going to Sambo's as a kid here in Bakersfied and really enjoyed the pancakes. I have'nt found anything close yet. After granduating from high school I moved to Clovis CA. Me and my friends would stay up to late after getting off work or getting out of church,drinking coffee at Sambo's on Shaw Ave across from Fashion Mall just west of Freno State. After awhile I took a job there as a dishwasher then moved back to Bakersfield. We had some great times at Sambo's. In Bakersfield I think there was three Sambo's the last one was built on Ming Ave just west of Hwy. 99 . After Sambo's went out of buiness, I think it remaind closes for awhile and then became Baker's Square and is still open. Thanks for this site as to remember a great resturant. To bad some people never grow up and get on with there life and get over petty things. God Bless

[Tina]

I remember going to Sambo's and eating their wonderful pancakes. I loved looking at all the pictures of Sambo and the tigers!
I miss that!!

[Carl]

My mom worked for the Sambos in Everett, Wa. many years ago. I remember her being very unhappy when the company folded , I think they even shorted her last check or something.

[tim]

I worked for sambo's in Coeurd'Alene Idaho beginning in 1975 through 1981.John Sanchez was the fraction of the action manager/owner. I started as a cook, and moved into management after the owner managers were screwed out of their 20%. A lot of problems with sambo's began when these owners left the company and new management was paid salary with out ownership in the restaurants. sambo's was a great place to work in the early years. I know to this day employee's remember John Sanchez as one of the most wonderful managers and people we ever had the pleasure to work for.

[tim]

I have the complete set of pictures that were located in Sambo's restaurants above the counter. These are 3/4 in. plywood, covered with a painted canvas, and each picture is made with colored glass pieces depicting the story of Sambo and the tigers. The 5 pictures are made to be mounted in a frame with flourecent lights behind to illuminate them. Each is in excellant condition. If you know of any more of these in existance, i would like to hear from you.

[Glenn]

I remember a trip to Las Vegas in 1970. We could not find a room except for a Travelodge located on the south part of the strip. There was a Sambo's attached to that Travelodge. Needless to say, after our 1st breakfast there....we ate there every day for the rest of the trip. I still have a matchbook from that Sambo's. I still go to Vegas every year. That same Travelodge is still there.....between the Aladdin and MGM Grand. Unfortunately, the Sambo's is long gone.

[Suzanne]

I was looking thru old memory items, from when I was a child and found a Souvenir Menu from Sambo's. I think we went to one of them in Oklahoma City. I am not sure the year of the menu, but it was with other items from 1979 and 1980. A New york cut steak with french fries and salad was $2.95. It also has all the pictures I remember from being at the restaurant.

[ART RHODES]

I WORKED FOR SAMBO'S IN RICHMOND VA BROAD ST AND ASHLAND VA. THIS WAS IN THE MID 70S
STARTED AS LATE NIGHT COOK AND MOVED UP TO MANAGER IN A SHORT TIME. IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN THE REST. BUS.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH WERE REAL RESTAURANT PEOPLE AT THIS TIME THERE WERE NO
COMPAQ'S OR MONITOR'S TO MISS WITH.
ALL CHECKS WENT TO THE KITCHEN FROM THE SERVER.
IT WAS THE FIRST KITCHEN THAT I HAD WORKED IN THAT DID NOT USE HEAT LAMPS . BUT HAD A SERVER CALL LIGHT SYSTEM TO CALL THE SERVER TO THE COOKS LINE TO PICK UP THE HOT FOOD.
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAPENED TO THE STAF OF THE 2 STORES THAT I WORKEN IN.
MOVED TO MN AND WENT THRU THE DENNY'S SAMBO'S BUY OUT.
WORKED FOR DENNY'S FOR A LOG TIME AND DENNY'S SHOUD OF BECOME SAMB'S NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

[Ray]

There is still a Sambo's restaurant in business in Lincoln City, OR. Not sure how/why it has survived but it is still there. The place underwent a complete renovation a few years ago and now claims to be a "landmark". Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to stop in, so I do not know if the menu is the same as in the old days.

[Misty]

My dad Jerry Plant was a manager of a Sambo's in Columbus Mississippi. My mom had her baby shower (actually my shower!) there in 1977 and I had my first birthday party there too! Most of my childhood photos have my Sambo's tiger doll in them!

[Stacey Kelly]

I remember going to Sambo's when I was a kid growing up in Vista, Ca. I believe it was on Vista Way. Does anyone remember this location? I would appreciate any info. I have fond memories of eating at Sambo's and I loved Sambo and the Tiger. I believe this also became a Baker's Square and is now something else.

[don burton]

I worked for Sambo's in Tucson during high school in the mid 60's. I started as a dishwasher and then a bus boy. I would love to know what became of some of the people from that place and time. I worked hard and ate well!

[Netta]

As an African american child I could remember going to Sambo's for breakfast and enjoying the best pancakes ever. I wish my children could have experienced the fun I had at Sambo's.

[Netta]

As an African american child I could remember going to Sambo's for breakfast and enjoying the best pancakes ever. I wish my children could have experienced the fun I had at Sambo's.

[Risa]

I remember going to Sambo's in North Kansas City, Missouri in the late 60's and early 70's when we only had one car, so we would take my dad to work at Farmland and my mom and I would eat breakfast at Sambo's and she would tell me the story of Sambo as I looked at the mural over the counter. They had the best pancakes!!