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

[Herb Overstreet]

Skeeter and I just ate at Sambo's here in Palookaville. Food was pretty good, service fine, but my ex-girlfriend came in and the hostess not only allowed, but encouraged her to sit with us. My current ladyfriend probably wouldn't approve. The rest of this harrowing story can be found at my site. Just go to http://herboverstreet.com or herboverstreet dot com and click on "Shadowing Beth with the Skeet."

[Brenda Chase]

There is a 'Lil Sambos in Lincoln City, OR. I stopped there yesterday to take of photo of the tiger wearing Sambo's pants and carring his umbrella that is outside the restaurant. My dad used to take me and my sister there all the time when we visited him (my parents were devorced). He also used to take us to Jack in the Box when they had the clown that you gave the order to. I was so sad when they blew up the clown on their commercials later. Anyway, I went into the restaurant and on the back of the menu was the story of that particular restaurant. The lady at the gift shop (where they had lots of tigers for sale) made a copy for me. This is what it said:

The Story of Lil Sambos Restaurant

Lil Sambo's Restaurant has been a coastal landmark for almost fifty years. In 1957 there were a handful of restaurants in the area. Probably the most popular eating extablishment in that day was Pixie-Kitchen owned by Jerry Parks. The only problem was Pixie-Kitchen didn't serve breakfast. So Ron Krieger (Jerry's lead cook) opened a breadfast house, one mile south of Pixie-Kitchen in what is today the Power Ford building. Ron originally named it "Pixie Pancakes" and it was an immediate hit.
In 1960 Ron expanded by relocating to our current location and within a few years expanded the building once again and added a Put-Put golf course to the property as well. One question we are often asked is whether or not we were ever part of the "Sambos" national chain, the answer is no. Our name Lil Sambos (originally Lil Black Sambos) is borrowed from the hero of a fictional story about an Indian boy, tigers and pancakes written by Helen Bannerman in 1899.
Over the years Ron made Lil Sambos a coastal landmark. A place where Highschool kids found their summer jobs and a place where locals and vistors as well come to enjoy great food in a family oriented environment. In 1995 the restaurant changed hands but the recipes and dedication to tradition remains.
This current building was erected on the original footings in 2001 when an electrical fire leveled the original well worn structure.

I did not eat here, maybe next visit to Lincoln City.I found this site when researching Sambos on line to include with the picture for my dad. Aparently the first Sambos was right next to the ocean. This is near the ocean too. Weird.

[thom]

if Sambo's is offensive, then maybe all the WHITE castle's should close or maybe eliminate the leprecaun from Lucky Stars cereal. African-americans that claim racism will use the n word (politically correct spelling)with out care, but let another race use it asnd it is racism. It is a word in the english launguage that is available to EVERYONE

[Chris C.]

I was a "member" of the Sambo's "kids club" in the 1970's where they would send you coupons in the mail right before your birthday each year to come in and get a free "six Sambo cakes" breakfast which would come with a colouring book as a gift. Most of the California locations I recall from my youth were converted into the failed "Seasons" chain, and then to "Bakers' square". The nearest former Sambo's building to where I'm living nowdays is up in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Carey Avenue which houses an "Egg and I" restaurant after being a J.B's "Big Boy" for a number of years after the end of the Sambo's chain.

[Steve Valett]

name change to Sambo's Resturant in Rock Island IL at the corner of 11 St & 31St Ave. Anyone remembers?

[Mark Pfeffer]

It was very nice to stumble onto this site. Sambo's played a huge role in my pre-adult life. My dad managed a Sambo's (Fresno-Blackstone) beginning in 1966 (I was 7). He stayed with the company through 1977 - becoming first a district manager (central valley of CA from Modesto to Bakersfield), then Territory Director, and eventually Regional Director (Causing us to move to Santa Barbara). I worked in a number of stores over the years, Roswell NM (where my brother, who was the manager, taught me to cook - cooked graveyard at 15, hanging out at the employee table with all the waitresses), as well as the Fresno Blackstone store and Fresno Shaw. Great memories, great people. My best to anyone who remembers me, my brother, or my dad.

[paul mize]

I lived in Anaheim CA. in the 70's in and around Garden Grove. There was a Sambo's on Harbar blvd. I would like to hear from thoes who used to work there and also the whereabouts of the manager who used to work there. Can anybody help?

[Alice (Tucker) Gibson]

Back to Sambo's in 1970's Stockton. University of the Pacific was nearby. We did training table meals for traveling teams, and prided ourselves in getting 2 buses in and out in an hour! Everyone got the same meal: NY strip steak, green beans, fries, Texas toast and sliced peaches for dessert. We all enjoyed the challenge every day to exceed the previous days sales - the employees always wanted to know "the reading" at the end of each shift. "Turning the tables over" was the name of the game. As the Owner/Manager's wife I wasn't on the clock. I was hostess, cashier, trained waitresses and did whatever else needed to be done without a timecard for five years. I loved that job, the loyal employees and the customers! Johnny Lee (dinner cook) became an American citizen while we were there, one of the AM cooks never wanted to put the obligatory parsley on the breakfast plate, and 2-3 of the AM waitresses knew every customer by the information on the guest check at the end of the shift. Amazing people!

[R. K. Prince]

Looking for anyone who may have worked at the Sambo's in Bowling Green, OH. circa 1972. I am helping my students with a project reseaching historic restaurant chains which have since closed.

[c j]

I can remember vividly, as a child, being in a restaurant wtih a Little Black Sambo theme. But I can't remember the name of it or where it was. I remember a lighted kind of 'story board' above what I recall was either the serving counter from the kitchen, or the lunch counter where people sat for their meals. The story board depicted scenes from the story of Little Black Sambo, including the little boy, and the tigers and it showed them turning itno butter.

I was raised in Oklahoma, and as a child never visited California, where I now know there were Sambo's restaurants located. Does anyone remember one of these restaurants in OK or TX in the 1950's or early 60's?

[leanne]

Does anyone have the address of Sambo's that used to be in Renton, Wa? My friend is trying to do a google earth search from his previous trips, but doesn't have the address. I'm sure it's changed names by now. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Leanne

[Joan (Jones) Hearing]

I worked for Sambo's in Santa Barbara in 1977-79 in their architectural division (Sierra West Architects). I too have very fond memories of the company and the folks who worked with me. I'm only in touch with one other employee from that time. I still have my employee coffee cup as well as a commemorative cup celebrating the opening of the 1000th restaurant.

[Barry Rhoads]

I went to work at Sambo's in Chino, CA in mid 1975. Forest "Woody" O'Neil was the manager. Amir Aghaloo (SP?) was the district manager. I started out as a cook and worked my way up to manager of a new store in Astoria OR which opened in june-July of 1978. Of course at that time the "fraction of the action" plan was gone. I was too in a short while because it wasnt worht the money anymore. Les, I forgot his last name was my district mgr up there.

One of my old neighbors in Chino was Ron Dillion, who I understnad was in management back east someplace.

What happened to sambo's was very sad! A lot of people got hurt financially.

[Mark Burgess]

I worked at the Sambo's on Speedway in Tucson in 1974 and 1975...a fellow named George (last name I think was Spencer) was the franchise holder.

[andrew grover]

I, like many have very fond memories of Sambo's four of my older brothers and sisters worked at the restaurant in Elmira, New York. I wish I still had my Tigers I remember a Football Basketball and Baseball player? Any others?

[Darlene Hutlman]

I have a menu and a Sambos Tiger doll that I am going to sell. Would anybody be interested?

[Terra]

I am holding onto a Sambo's menu dated 1977, from the buffalo,NY area. Reading through it makes me laugh...Four peices of deep fried chicken, fries,gravy and a veg. for only 2.95. The drink of coca cola is affordable at 40 cents a glass ! Any one interested in my treasure let me know.

[Carolyn]

I remember going to Sambos in Chico, Ca in the 1970's when we moved here. It was always fun, the food good, and my two children ages 9 and 5 always wanted to go back again to Sambos. The manager and the help were always friendly and spoke to the girls which thrilled them. I enjoyed this site very much. So, I have a "Sambo's Has It" coffee mug with red, white and blue markings with white stars (in good condition). Make me an offer and I will mail it to you for best offer plus postage.

[Carolyn]

Oops, forgot this: send offers to me at: cager38@yahoo.com

[Pirate Paul]

Few ever thought anything racist when we all went to eat at Sambo's. It wasn't until the NAACP tried to force them to change the name, and finally put them out of business, that we knew anybody was in a snit.
It reminds me of the great place in Irving, right outside of Fort Worth, which had the chamber of commerce's underwear all bunched up because of its sign, "Big Nigger Barbecue." Trouble was, the owner was a big fat black guy, and he wasn't about to change the name. I think they drove him under too. Political correctness shall rule.

[Paul]

To help answer questions a few posed above:
There was a Sambo's on NASA Road (FM528) in Clear Lake City, Tx in the 70s. It later became a Red Lobster, and later something else.
There was a Sambo's on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, Ca, which later became a Godfather Pizza (which was actually a tax write-off for another company).

[Barry Rhoads]

Anyone who thinks Sambo's was forced out of business due to their name is WRONG! Sambo's went out of business due to poor managemnent, perhaps illegal management practices. When they were forced to change their managament compensation package that was the start of the end. I was a manager for Sambo's. AGAIN - the name Sambo's had NOTHING to do with the demise of the company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Robert M. Stano]

It was my greatest pleasure to have worked for and managed a Sambo's Restaurant.

I joined the Sambo's Management team in the late 70's and trained in Portland, Maine (Mgr. John Cooper) and Bangor, Maine. (Mgr. Phil Baer). My management training was in Cherry Hills, NJ.

I became Manager of a brand new million dollar Sambo's restaurant in Rockland, Mass), I was the first manager at this location and had the extreme pleasure of opening the doors for business at there.

Sambo's was the easiest and best restaurant to operate and I was proud of my staff that worked at that location.

I left Sambo's when they sold the chain to Motel 6, which I believe was owned by American Hardware at that time.

Motel 6 destroyed that chain and broke the backs of many good managers. It didn't take them long until they drove it into the ground and oblivion.

I still have my original Manager's handbooks and training manuals with restaurant diagrams. If anyone ever wanted to open a Sambo's style restaurant these books would show them the way to do it.

I would be happy in hearing from my old staff from the Rockland, Mass store or the training stores in Portland, Maine and Bangor, Maine.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Stano
Former Manager of Rockland, Mass Sambo's

[Kathy]

Wow...who knew?? I was born and raised in Santa Barbara in 1948. I am now 59, but have wonderful momories of Sambo's and their 10 cent cups of coffee with free refills. And strawberry pancakes...yummy!My mother was a waitress at the Santa Barbara location and knew Sam B. well. We later moved to Vegas when I was 13. She continued working at the Sambo's Lotus Inn, where I started working, summers when I was 13 for Oliver Dixon. I later worked at the one furthest out on the strip and the one on Bonanza location later on. IIf you were a good and fast waitress,and you worked at one, sometimes they would call and see if you would pick up a shift at one of the other stores, if someone called in sick. A very tight nit group:) I then started commuting as my mother before me to Palm Spring Sambos in Vegas off season. Each year they counted on you showing up:) I then married a cook, who trained in Yuba City Ca. for managment when they opened that store. We then had a Sambos in Fullerton Ca. and then we opened one of the first in the south... Shreveport La. We actually had to run a story in the local paper in a diplomatic way about Sam Battistone Jr. and who he was, because a rumor got around that Sammie Davis Jr. owned and know one would eat there. This was in 1971 as my son was born there. Can you believe, someone came in and asked my husband to join the KKK??. He politely refused, saying he couldn't possibly do that, as he had black cooks and dishwashers:) Ahhh yes, I have nothing but fond memories associated with youth and growing up. I haven't been to Santa Barbara for so long. I didn't even know that one was still open. Bet coffee's not a dime anymore. I would love to hear from anyone. My email is twoberners@aol.com! Stands for Bernese Mtn. Dogs..call them Berners.

[Kathy]

This is what happens when you don't proof read. I sent the above email....

CORRECTION...I started working at Sambos in the summers when I was 16, not 13.

Also, when they closed I got one of the Sambo heads with coat hooks on it. Sure wish I knew where it was!