Sambo’s once was a popular family restaurant chain, peaking in the late 1970s with more than 1,100 locations across the country. The founders said the name originally came from combining parts of their names: Sam Battistone Sr. and Newell Bohnett. The owners then chose to use images from the story of Little Black Sambo in their restaurants and names in the story to shape the menu.
In response to a curiousKC inquiry, Tony Bolden, associate professor of African-American Studies at the University of Kansas and editor of the Langston Hughes Review, shares his experience about going to Sambo’s as a child in California. He also discusses the history around the name Sambo, and the implications of using the name to make money.
The company filed bankruptcy in late 1981. Today, a single surviving Sambo’s remains open in California.
Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.
Related Stories
The Declaration at 250: How Expansionism Helped Fuel A Revolution
Animus toward British restrictions on moving westward was one reason Americans sought their independence, though bedrock principles like freedom of speech remain relevant today.
Nick’s Picks | Fan Fest, Streetcar, Liquor and More …
World Cup Begins The wait is finally over. The first ball of the 2026 World Cup will be kicked Thursday, ushering in 5 ½ weeks of competition across the United States, Canada and Mexico. It’s also opening day for Kansas City’s FIFA Fan Fest at the National World War I Museum and Memorial—our first real…
Nick’s Picks | March Madness, Jail Opens, St. Paddy’s & More
The Madness Begins ‘Tis the season for buzzer beaters, broken brackets and according to HR experts, plummeting productivity. Welcome to March Madness! The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships tip off this week. KU and Mizzou play their first games late Friday night in the men’s tournament. Missouri State is the only local team to…