Effort launched to save Sam's Italian Sandwich Company in Burlingame

Costs for improving the site it’s called home since 2005 coupled with chain stores moving to the area have created a challenging environment for the locally-owned shop. An effort to help has sprung up online. The goal is simple: Raise $10,000 to cover about five months rent, said Councilwoman Cathy Baylock. This week, former councilman Russ Cohen set up a website to solicit donations and also gather stories about people who previously worked at the hometown sandwich shop.

The money would help get owners Rino Betti and June Williams ahead of the curve, said Cohen.

“Rino and June are the real sandwich artists, making them from scratch,” said Cohen, adding they’re the kind of mom and pop store that Burlingame is all about.

Betti is happy to have the help. Without a little extra something, he’s not sure how long the place will remain open. Warm weather normally brings a spike in business, Betti is hopeful that will be a boost. Also, Betti said he will most likely need to raise prices, although didn’t really want to do so.

When the lease came up on the City Council agenda last week, Cohen and Baylock decided to do something. Baylock is prohibited from discussing the contract, despite the lease being on city-owned property, because her son works at Sam’s part time. She said that actually was a good thing since it allows her to help with the fundraising.

Both Cohen and Baylock have memories of Sam’s and noted it’s provided the first job for countless local teens over the years.

Sam’s Italian Sandwich Company, originally located at 297 California Drive in Burlingame, opened in 1972. The idea came from when Betti would drive to North Beach in San Francisco to visit a deli called Freddie’s while in high school. Betti was sold on the idea of owning his own shop. At 22, along with his friend Rich Vento, who would be his partner during the first five years of Sam’s, the business was born.

There’s never been a Sam tied to Sam’s. It was a name the guys liked. Things started simply in the space previously used as a cabbie dispatch office. Four sandwiches were available. It was 75 cents for a medium and $1.10 for a large. In the ’90s the menu expanded to five items, including turkey.

Williams joined the team before turkey was offered on the menu. She worked at a flower shop around the corner, said Betti, adding they had started dating. When the flower shop closed, Williams came to work at the shop until something better came along. They’re still together but now the shop has pictures of their family and grandsons in it.

The menu had only five sandwiches on it until the move in 2005. Betti explained simply that the menu was limited because of the small space of the original location.

Rising rents moved the locally-loved sandwich shop slightly down the road to a former Greyhound bus depot at the intersection of Howard Drive, California Drive and Highland Avenue. Moving gave Betti the option to expand the menu to include hot sandwiches, hot dogs, soup and chili.

Some things have remained the same. The shop has always been a bit seasonal with higher sales in the summer — something Betti hopes will remain true as the weather warms up.

For more information, or to make a donation, visit savesams.com. Alternatively, checks made out to The City of Burlingame, with “Sam’s Sandwiches” in the memo section, and mailed to 1527 Newlands Ave., Burlingame, CA 94010. Money will be delivered to Burlingame City Hall when the goal is reached.

heather@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 105