studies that showed that "three times as many blacks (sic) ate at Sambo's as at any other full service restaurant". In 1979, Sambo's had 1,117 outlets in 47 American states. Additional corporate level decisions made at the time also led to Sambo's corporate demise. Pressure to take Sambo's into a more normal, salaried manager compensation package was one issue. Their unique "Fraction of the Action" promotion – whereby managers were entitled to 20% of the profits from their stores, with employees allowed to bid for a percentage of the remaining profits – was an early company expansion plan, and the growth of the company outpaced its control. In March 1981, in a further attempt to give the chain a new image the company again renamed some locations, this time to "No Place Like Sam's". By November 1981, the company filed for bankruptcy. Neither the name change nor bankruptcy protection reversed this downward trend, and by 1982 all except the original Sambo's at 216 West Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara, California closed their doors. By February 1983, 618 of the locations were renamed Season's Friendly Eating. Several locations were sold to Denny's, including the Fort Lauderdale store. Bakers Square's parent company acquired Sambo's in California in October 1984. Many Sambo's locations were converted to Bakers Square restaurants and the ones that weren't were sold to other chains, including Denny's. Battistone's grandson, restaurateur Chad Stevens, owns the only remaining restaurant in Santa Barbara which continued business under the Sambo's name until 2020. In late May 2020, George Floyd protests against racism in the United States began in cities across the United States, including Santa Barbara. A petition drive asked the owner to change the name of Sambo's. In June 2020, the name on the original Sambo's sign was temporarily changed to the motto "☮ & LOVE" ("Peace and love"). In July 2020, the restaurant was officially renamed to "Chad's". In popular culture Sam Battistone, Jr. was the original owner of the New Orleans Jazz in the NBA. He later moved the team to Utah and sold it. An abandoned Sambo's was cleaned up and used for a scene in the movie Edward Scissorhands. References External links The Original Sambo's Restaurant African-American-related controversies Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1981 Defunct restaurant chains in the United States Restaurants established in 1957 Restaurants disestablished in 2020 Restaurants in California Buildings and structures