56 Beloved American Restaurants That Have Closed Their Doors

Sambo’s was a restaurant chain that was founded in 1957. As you can guess by the name, the chain’s name was not well-liked by anti-racists. Sambo used themes and art from the wildly offensive story; the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1981, just two years after it had hit its peak of 1,117 locations in 1979.

Despite its initial success, Sambo’s inability to adapt to evolving social attitudes and its association with offensive imagery led to a rapid decline. Facing mounting criticism and declining sales, the once-thriving chain struggled to maintain its foothold in the competitive restaurant market. Eventually, Sambo faded into obscurity, leaving behind a controversial legacy.