2nd to last Howard Johnson's restaurant to close

[bcla]

We used to go to Sambo's when I was a kid (think '60s and '70s). I remember the tiger butter. I never really understood why it was offensive when the story (I thought) takes place in India and Sambo is quite an industrious (and smart) child. Were a great number of Indians offended?

Their representation may not have been the most appropriate. The name was just a combination of the founders' names, but they played up the connection to the "Little Black Sambo" character. Perhaps the use of images weren't the most accurate either. Indians don't have kinky hair. I guess the main reason it went out of favor was when black Americans found that the caricatures were associated with Africa because of the name. There were all sorts of knockoff versions that were drawn in a more offensive style that might have been closer to the look of Africans than Indians.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

They died out decades ago in my area. Also gone are Perkins, IHop, Denny's and Bob Evans. Pretty soon the only breakfast place left will be rotten old McDonald's

My grandmother passed away years ago but I remember going on road trips with her and my folks. Her one request every morning was to stop at a Bob Evans for breakfast. Good times.

 

[GaryDis]

The WDW dominance of this board is illustrated by the number of people who didn't know about the HoJo's hotel across the street from Disneyland. Where else can you take a picture like this?

I have fond memories of the HoJo's restaurant that used to be at the rest stop on Rt. 128 (I-95) in Lexington, Massachusetts. When DH and I were dating, we'd often stop there on our respective ways back from whatever Boston event we'd gone to. In particular, I remember a scene from the movie "Parting Glances" involving some playing footsie, which we duplicated at the HoJo's that night.

Now it's a McD's. I miss having TS restaurants at rest stops.

 

[kimblebee]

I can't believe that there's a restaurant called sambos..that's crazy to me.

My parents have a copy of Little Black Sambo and I remember being told not to tell anyone they had it because it was a banned book.

 

[King Schultz]

I can't believe that there's a restaurant called sambos..that's crazy to me.

My parents have a copy of Little Black Sambo and I remember being told not to tell anyone they had it because it was a banned book.

As I recall, there a series of paintings telling the "Sambo" story in the restaurants.

It's been a long time ago, but it was an India-Indian little boy who had pancakes but no butter so he got some tigers to chase him around a tree so fast they turned into butter.

Never read "Little Black Sambo" but I'm assuming the two are not related.

 

[Hikergirl]

I have such great memories of HoJo's. It was such a treat to go out to breakfast when I was young and that is where we would go. When I was a teen it was the place to go after being out because it was the only place open. The one in our area closed a decade or more ago. I had no idea there were any left.

 

[kimblebee]

As I recall, there a series of paintings telling the "Sambo" story in the restaurants.

It's been a long time ago, but it was an India-Indian little boy who had pancakes but no butter so he got some tigers to chase him around a tree so fast they turned into butter.

Never read "Little Black Sambo" but I'm assuming the two are not related.

That's exactly the story in the book too. I haven't seen the book in ages but I think there's a bit more to it..I think the Tigers try to steal his clothes first or something.

 

[L&Lfan]

Yeah, I can remember seeing one of the tigers with Sambo's little pointy slippers on his ears. The tigers want his clothes, then they want HIM!

 

[King Schultz]

That's exactly the story in the book too. I haven't seen the book in ages but I think there's a bit more to it..I think the Tigers try to steal his clothes first or something.

Oh! I stand corrected.

And yeah, there was more to the story in the series of paintings too, but this was back in the 60's and I can't remember it all.

I do know the kid was "Sambo" not "Little Black Sambo" at the restaurant, and I can't remember it being offensive except maybe to tigers.

 

[kimblebee]

Oh! I stand corrected.

And yeah, there was more to the story in the series of paintings too, but this was back in the 60's and I can't remember it all.

I do know the kid was "Sambo" not "Little Black Sambo" at the restaurant, and I can't remember it being offensive except maybe to tigers.

I *think* part of the reason the book is considered offensive is the way the mom is portrayed. I don't want to get points or offend anyone but (again) from what I remember she is very 'mammy'. Does that make sense?

 

[L&Lfan]

Sambo's parents were Jumbo and Mumbo.

 

[King Schultz]

I *think* part of the reason the book is considered offensive is the way the mom is portrayed. I don't want to get points or offend anyone but (again) from what I remember she is very 'mammy'. Does that make sense?

Say no more; I get what you mean.

I don't recall the parents being depicted in the restaurant but like I said, it was a looong time ago.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We used to go to Sambo's when I was a kid (think '60s and '70s). I remember the tiger butter. I never really understood why it was offensive when the story (I thought) takes place in India and Sambo is quite an industrious (and smart) child. Were a great number of Indians offended?
.

Prior to the book, Sambo was a racial slur against Indians used by the British. Where the problem comes in with blacks is that in a subsequent publication and illustration of the book that was widely circulated, The pictures are demeaning caricatures of Blacks.

In any case, Sambo's wasn't done in by the controversy. It was done in by reckless expansion with too much debt that collapsed like a house of cards under bad management.

 

[FofMM]

Loved their Pistachio Ice Cream! Last restaurant I was in was Milford Ct. It has since closed. Their Ice Cream and Corn Toastee flat corn muffins continued to be in supermarkets here in MA until processing plant closed in Brockton Massachusetts some years ago. They tried to expand offerings and freshen image by adding/replacing HoJo's with Red Coach Grill's and Ground Round's. I have many fond memories of Howard Johnson's. Supposedly, years ago, an invest guy purchased the "recipe formulas" for the Ice Cream flavors, but I never saw a re-launch.

 

[ImDMous]

When I was a kid, I loved Sambo's. I was a member of their kid's club and they had a gift shop that sold stuffed tigers that wore little shirts, the story book and other stuff with the restaurant logo, like Bob's Big Boy. Obviously, it was the 70's and there wasn't anything controversial about it then. Looks like you can still get them on e-bay, wonder where mine went..

 

[Stonglock]

Wow, I thought they all went out about 10 years ago.

 

[suzimar57]

We would eat at Sambo's every trip we took to Virginia Beach (mid 1960s)

And there was a Howard Johnson's on route 46 (Ridgefield NJ) we ate at most weekends - loved the fried clams & coconut ice cream!

 

[bethbuchall]

There was a Howard Johnson's restaurant in Erie, PA near the 90 that we used to stop at when I was young. It was about half way between our house and where my grandparents and some aunts and uncles lived. Sometimes I'd go visit by myself for a week or two or my cousins would come to our house, and that was the meeting point so that no one had to make the full drive. I have great memories of Howard Johnson's.

We have an IHOP (newer style that opened in the last 15 years) and Denny's here, and Perkins is supposed to be coming soon. I haven't been to any of them lately except the IHOP across from Disneyland (and I have no desire to return). I don't remember Sambo's at all.

I've always wanted to try Waffle House when we were traveling just to say that I've done it, but my family has always refused.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I have fond childhood memories of going there with my grandparents. Ate at one of the last ones in Lake Placid NY, only a few years ago. The closest thing left around here is Friendly's, which also has really good fried clams and ice cream, but many of them are closing now too, it seems.

I remember back in the late 60's/early 70's, you could buy HoJo's own brand of soda. I can still picture the cans with the orange roof and turquoise cupola logo. I also remember the logo on their signs with Simple Simon and the Pieman.

 

[King Schultz]

When I was a kid, I loved Sambo's. I was a member of their kid's club and they had a gift shop that sold stuffed tigers that wore little shirts, the story book and other stuff with the restaurant logo, like Bob's Big Boy. Obviously, it was the 70's and there wasn't anything controversial about it then. Looks like you can still get them on e-bay, wonder where mine went..

I remember having Bob's Big Boy coloring books. .