Sam is stepping away from Sam's, but the institution abides with new ownership.

Photo from Payne-Koehler Road in 1980, with
the Fourth Dam Tavern (future Sam's) on the left.

Sam Anderson is stepping away from the restaurant biz. Below you'll find the local chain newspaper's coverage.

Sam as an individual and Sam's as a bar/restaurant are iconic institutions in New Albany. "Legend" is overused, but entirely appropriate in this instance. How many local eateries have been in business for the better part of 37 years under the same name and ownership? Sam is the link between the Lancaster's and South Side of old, and the explosion of new dining and drinking establishments today.

I believe the footprint of the original Sam's now lies beneath asphalt near the intersection of Charlestown Road and Blackiston Mill Road. In olden times it was called Kamer's Tavern, then became Fourth Dam Tavern for a very long period. It's what the business was called when I attended university at IU Southeast.

It will suffice to say that the Fourth Dam Tavern was a dive in the old-school sense, not at all cuddly in the contemporary parlance. The door on the Blackiston Mill Road side, which was used by customers, was less than a sidewalk's length from passing cars. It was insane.

I turned 21 in 1981, which proved briefly embarrassing when revealed to staffers in the joints where I already was a regular. Around the same time Fourth Dam Tavern closed, and the new owner remodeled it into a German-themed eatery (no joke) called the Gasthaus. The redesign includes stucco and exterior murals of Bavarian scenes, pained by a local artist Rene Delisle, who died in 2002.

Gasthaus lasted maybe two years, and was followed by a short-lived bar and grill called Ye Olde Mill Inn. Then in early 1984 came Sam's.

Friends of mine knew Sam from high school, and we all became immediate barflies. This will come as a shock to some, but one of the beers Sam kept around for us was Michelob Classic Dark in bottles. We drank the living hell out of that one, along with St. Pauli Girl, Beck's and (yes) draft swill when money was tight.

Sam's under Sam was an institution. Let's hope it stays that way under the news owners -- and, by the way, the fire at the original location of Sam's was in December 2013, not 2014. Minor point, I know. The reason I remember is that is happened right before Christmas.

Sam's Food & Spirits founder stepping away from business, by John Boyle (News&Bune)

After nearly four decades, Sam Anderson is selling his namesake restaurant, which has been a part of the Floyd County community since opening in 1984.

Business First on Sam's at The Montrose.

It's a solid idea to use the Montrose space rather than rebuild, and my view all along has been that "location" problems are far fewer than many people imagine if the the idea is to brand or co-brand as Sam's. He's right; it's the back door to Clarksville, and the older (original) part of Clarksville soon will be thought of as entirely separate from the big box madness; rather, it will be the quaint part of town by the Greenway.

If you ask me, it's a power move, albeit it one owing to circumstance.

Landmark New Albany restaurant opens part-time in new location, by Caitlin Bowling (Business First)

The fire that consumed Sam's Food & Spirits' New Albany location was tragic, but it gave owner Sam Anderson a chance to reinvent the business slightly ...

... The Sam's New Albany location won't reopen, but Anderson has started running a part-time version of Sam's at Montrose Plantation, a historic home built in Clarksville in the 1800s. Anderson has owned the building, which is at 318 W. Lewis and Clark Parkway, since 1996. It has served as a restaurant before and most recently as an events venue.

Montrose will continue to serve as an events venue for weddings and parties, and starting Oct. 20, the building will operate as Sam's at The Montrose from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. It will feature the same menu and, like the other locations, offer free popcorn to guests. But the goal is to emphasize the business more as a restaurant than a sports bar.

The two locations of Sam's Food & Spirits have reopened.

First, permit me to express sincere relief that Sam's Food & Spirits has reopened, and  also that the tax issues causing Sam Anderson's two restaurants to briefly close for two days this week are being resolved. Both Sam the person and Sam's as a restaurant are iconic institutions hereabouts. Which local eateries have been in business for 28 years under the same name and ownership?  Sam is the link between the Lancaster's and South Sides of old, and the explosion of new places today.

And, thanks to Grace Schneider for clearly explaining what happened, and how it's been addressed.

Sam's eateries in Floyd County reopen after 2-day shutdown, by Grace Schneider (Courier-Journal)

Both Sam's Food and Spirits restaurants in Floyd County reopened Friday for lunch after closing suddenly Tuesday afternoon. The Indiana Department of Revenue had temporarily shut them down because the company defaulted on payment of state taxes, owner Sam Anderson said Friday afternoon.

Congratulations to Sam’s Food & Spirits on the Big 2-5.

Sam’s Food & Spirits turns 25 tomorrow, and Sam Anderson scored good press with the Tribune's Chris Morris, and via Dale Moss in today's C-J.

The place in New Albany again is ostensibly his – more his, anyway -- after about a decade with partners who also operate the area’s Bristol restaurants. It feels right, all right, to Anderson at age 50 to resume the challenge he accepted at 25. He embraced the risk, as he puts it, and comes back for another squeeze.

My circle at the time was a regular fixture at Sam's Tavern, and it seemed that long before the advent of Whole Foods, on some weeks my Whole Paycheck was going to him. Not at any point did I ever imagine that 25 years later, I'd be alive, in the food and drink business and selling my own company's products (NABC Elector) to Sam.

So it goes, and as we know, life's what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. Here's to Sam and his cast and crew over the years, and here's the menu tomorrow. Ironically, two of the three beers with "retro" pricing didn't exist in 1985, but then again, Michelob Dark no longer is with us, either. We drank an awfully lot of it then, usually watching IU basketball games. Damn. Where'd the time go?

---

In recognition of Sam’s Food & Spirits Twenty-fifth Anniversary, you are invited to celebrate with us as we roll back our favorite menu item prices to 1985. It is because of your patronage, that we have enjoyed success over the past 25 years. Please enjoy your meal as it was priced in our first year of business, 1985. Thank you for the pleasure of serving you.

Sam Anderson

1985-2010
Menu Available January 23rd Only
Dining Room Only – No Carry-Out Orders
Platters Include — Choice of French Fries, House Fries or Onion Rings

APPETIZERS
Broccoli Cheese Balls . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.95
Fried Mozzarella.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.95
Potato Skins. . . . . . . . . . .. . . Loaded 3.95
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chili Skins 4.95
Fried Vegetable Combo
Includes Mushrooms, Cauliflower
and Zucchini – enough to share.. . . 3.95
Rolled Oysters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.95
Sam’s Salad
Includes Salad, Ham, Turkey, Cheese,
Bacon and Diced Eggs.. . . . . . . . . . . 3.95

FRESH HAMBURGERS
Fresh ground beef brought in daily, pattied in our own kitchen, Charbroiled to order.
Choice of French Fries, House Fries or Onion Rings.
Includes choice of two sides.
Hamburger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Platter 2.95
Each Additional Topping . . . . . . . . .0.25
Cheddar Cheese, American Cheese, Swiss Cheese, Bacon, Sauteed Onions, Sauteed Mushrooms

SANDWICHES
White Fish Sandwich
Broiled or Fried .. . . . . . . . . . . . . Platter 2.95
Fresh Boneless Chicken Breast
Charbroiled or Fried . . . . . . . . .. Platter 2.95
Club Sandwich .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Platter 2.95

DINNERS
White Fish Dinner Broiled, Blackened or Fried. 6.95
Butterfly Shrimp Broiled, Blackened or Fried ..6.95
Chicken Fingers Breaded and Fried .. . . . . . . 6.95
8-oz. Ribeye Broiled to Order.. . . . . . . . . . . 8.95

All Kids’ Meals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.99
Beverages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

10-ounce draft Shock Top, Amberbock, Bud Light 0.85

Trivia for prizes all day. Music by Tim Morrow, 9-midnight.

Tasty fried fish since 1985 ... and by the way, vote for me.

If Sam Anderson can co-opt his familiar business logo for political gain ...

... then why can't I?



Well, it's sloppy, but you get the idea.

Yeah, I know -- no disclaimer ... but it's hardly an official campaign, is it?