Pictures of the original founders, his family members and the old days at the restaurant remain on the walls including one in front of Santa Barbara City Hall where an honor was handed out. Stevens said for years he wanted to call the site Chad's at the beach, or Chad's Cafe but kept the Sambo's name for family reasons.
Monet said, "it shows we can work together to induce positive change and despite your different backgrounds and different cultures that we can all come together live together harmoniously."Īt one point Monet was going to help raise money for the transition costs but Stevens suggested any type of money that came together go towards other positive efforts Monet is involved in. Monet said it also shows Santa Barbara is a community where these solutions can occur with discussions, education and understanding. She says she is happy there has been a common ground on the issue and said Stevens was a leader to make the change. When she met with Stevens they hugged and had a peaceful interaction. Monet, who works at a financial company locally, has since dined at the restaurant. That change received a mostly warm reception, but some opponents had fond memories of the restaurant and did not agree with the decision. I want a place where kids can go, come and eat in a family dining experience." Stevens said he would not convert it into his past restaurant, but just expand the menu beyond the "pancake house" offerings the previous restaurant had.Ī few weeks ago, Stevens agreed to a temporary name change with the peace symbol followed by "& LOVE" replacing the original letters. With the change, "we are still going to be a family restaurant. "I've always respected all cultures, races, anybody, but I knew it was time to change," said Stevens.
Even though the restaurant's name was not derived from the book, characters from it were used in promotional materials across the chain in prior decades. The work has been interpreted by many as offensive to Blacks. The story of "Sambo" featured an Indian boy, in the book Little Black Sambo. During that time, local protest organizer Rashelle Monet requested Sambo's name be changed due to a racist history for the word. It was a popular dinner spot in an old Victorian residence with a go-to happy hour scene on Friday nights for local hipsters over a wide demographic.Ĭhanging the Sambo's name on Cabrillo Boulevard occurred as the country and local community went through racial identity debates following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Stevens' first "Chad's" restaurant was open on Chapala Street for 16 years, closing in 2008. and Newell "Bo" Bohnett.Ĭurrent owner Chad Stevens is the grandson of Battistone.ĭuring the 1970s and 1980s, Sambo's expanded across the country, but the chain failed for reasons including financial losses. The owners say the "Sambo's" name was a combination of owners names, Sam Battistone Sr. The sign was changed Tuesday night at 216 West Cabrillo Boulevard, where the restaurant opened in June, 1957 as the first of the Sambo's nationwide chain.