See popular North Sacramento restaurant with 80-year history reopen for business
By Bailey Stover
Sammy’s Restaurant celebrated its grand reopening on Friday in North Sacramento. The classic American diner, which originally opened in 1944, is located at the corner of Del Paso Boulevard and Cantalier Street.
Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Councilman Shoun Thao were among those who spoke during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Thao said the investment would promote economic revitalization in the Del Paso Boulevard and Marysville Boulevard business corridor.
“Everybody out here – everybody – you are true believers,” Steinberg said. “You are true believers that community matters, that life can be better, and you fight for what is right and what you want and what is good for the people. And that’s what Sammy’s is about here.”
Sammy’s Restaurant had been closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is now under the new ownership of Naz and Moon Begum. The diner serves staples such as biscuits and gravy, pancakes, Caesar salads, BLT sandwiches and chicken Parmesan.
“This is very unreal. I’m still, like, ‘Hey, this is all mine now’ – still overwhelmed,” Naz Begum said. “This right here is success.”
Sammy’s Restaurant owner Naz Begum serves fried foods to attendees during the restaurant’s grand reopening in North Sacramento on Friday. “This district, too, has so much potential, so much life,” Begum said. “And I think more business here will bring more life here.” Bailey Stover bstover@sacbee.com
Patrons look through the menu at Sammy’s Restaurant in North Sacramento on Friday. The restaurant’s menu includes omelets, pancakes, burgers and sandwiches. Bailey Stover bstover@sacbee.com
Larry Craig-Arriba, 2024 Community Ambassador with the Neighborhood Development Action Team, puts together a sampling of fried foods at Sammy’s Restaurant in North Sacramento on Friday, July 19, 2024. Craig-Arriba said he hopes the restaurant’s grand reopening “helps to revitalize the whole boulevard.” Bailey Stover bstover@sacbee.com
Naz Begum, one of the new owners of Sammy’s Restaurant in North Sacramento, works the register during the grand reopening celebration on Friday. “This has been a dream come true,” Begum said. “I’ve been waiting for this day for 20 years.” Bailey Stover bstover@sacbee.com
Sacramento Councilman Shoun Thao, right, standing with Mayor Darrell Steinberg, speaks to a crowd gathered to celebrate the grand reopening of Sammy’s Restaurant in North Sacramento on Friday. Thao said the business, which first opened in 1944, is part of the economic revitalization in the Del Paso Boulevard and Marysville Boulevard business corridor. Bailey Stover bstover@sacbee.com
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, center, celebrates the grand reopening of Sammy’s Restaurant on Friday with its owners, Councilman Shoun Thao and members of the North Sacramento community. “This is really a proud day for the city,” Steinberg said, “because any time we celebrate something good and great in North Sacramento, it’s really special because this is such an important and historic part of our city.” Bailey Stover bstover@sacbee.com
