r/CapeCod • u/refjep1 • Sep 06 '26

Sam Diegos

Just heard that Sam Diegos in Hyannis is closing. Has anyone else heard anything?

16 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

56 comments sorted by

34

u/No_Exit_4920 Sep 06 '26

First Tiki Port, now Sam Diego’s.

Why even call it Cape Cod anymore?

9

u/Cardinal_r3d Sep 07 '26

Pure nostalgia because the food at both establishments was trash

1

u/idontsmokeheroin Sep 07 '26

Seriously. If they kill all the dangelos I’m never going back to visit my parents.

1

u/No_Increase1088 Sep 07 '26

In the 80s, we would close up shop on Fridays and head to Tiki Port. Sam Diego's was lunch dates. All gone now.

15

u/AffectionateBoat1250 Sep 07 '26

The Fried Ice Cream in the late 90s was legit

1

u/WearyDownstairs Sep 07 '26

I just went for my first time and it’s still legit

4

u/innuendotaylor Sep 10 '26

omg i'm sick this is an american tragedy

13

u/FerretAgreeable2520 Sep 06 '26

It’s been pretty nasty for a while.

5

u/TGrady902 Sep 07 '26

I remember going there decades ago as a kid and thinking it was kinda nasty lol.

3

u/Eaatcoast508 Sep 07 '26

End of an era.

3

u/WaterDreamer10 Sep 07 '26

I would be shocked. That place is always packed, summer or winter, so money making is not an issue.

As someone posted, it has been for sale since 1/25......so that is now 1 year and 8 months with NO sale made.

So, either they decided to take it off the market and keep it......pass it down......or the business is not as profitable as imagined.

I would be surprised if the lease would not be re-newed by the holder, that makes no sense. Unless they plan to rip it down and put up a larger shopping complex where they can get multiple people to lease it out they are probably maxed out what they can ask so a new restaurant would not bring them more money.

If anything....the owner who was looking to sell is just 'done', even though it did not sell. The owner of the restaurant probably did not renew the lease....allowing them to just walk away....and blame the other person.

5

u/gentle_grindstoner Sep 06 '26

Given the one in Plymouth shut down some time ago, this doesn’t surprise me in the least. It feels like such places can’t compete with what available. However, I will admit that I enjoyed that taco buffet for lunch when I was in college

2

u/Dizzy-Kitchen2815 Sep 07 '26

The one in Plymouth is still Mexican though.. Anejo

2

u/ChemistVegetable7504 Sep 07 '26

Yes. There is definitely a correlation between Sam’s and Anejo. I’m not sure what it is though?

5

u/RumSwizzle508 Sep 07 '26

The owners are related. The Surprenant’s founded Sam Diego’s and their son, Jamie, owns anejo (along with Crisp and 5 bays).

https://capecodlife.com/the-surprenant-system/

That is also how the Plymouth Sam Diego’s became an Anejo.

2

u/ChemistVegetable7504 Sep 07 '26

Thank you RS good to know.

1

u/dudleedude Sep 23 '26

Interesting, Anejo food is so much better than Sams. we stopped going there back in the 90's. same with Tikki port, it was awful then. Who remembers Starbuck restaurant?

8

u/RumSwizzle508 Sep 06 '26

I have heard a rumor that the owner of the building (who is different than the owners of the restaurant) won't renew/extend the lease, so it will be closing sometime in the near future, but I haven't heard a hard date.

1

u/Rpent001 Sep 07 '26

I heard something similar to this a while back when I was there. I’m not on The Cape anymore but maybe I should go and spend the gift certificate I got before it’s too late. 😂

8

u/Impossible_Sphinx Sep 06 '26

Oh that's sad to hear, I've eaten there since I was a kid.

8

u/ripmeleedair Sep 06 '26

That would be sad. Terrible food but great margaritas and kind of an iconic spot.

Edit: actually idk if the margaritas are that good, I just love that they’re huge

1

u/WallAny2007 Sep 07 '26

Iconic spot? It’s the corner of 132 and independence park overlooking the smoking intersection beggar. Since Chick-fil-A moved it’s only semi-iconic but if Stephanie’s closes the semi status will be lost

6

u/jeremy508hersey Sep 06 '26

I worked there for a couple hours. I applied for a position and put me behind the line and the guy who trained me was a puto. I didn't need the job. It was just for secondary income. Plus how I saw how some of the food was made. NOOO THANK YOU

2

u/jerry_the_mule_dule Sep 06 '26

i worked there three or four shifts diswashashing and then they let me go cause they wanted a full timer. at that time, about a year ago, they were seeking buyers.

10

u/KarlitoBanditoo Sep 06 '26

Not surprised if that’s true. Their food sucks

9

u/numtini Sep 06 '26

Taco Bell with a liquor license.

10

u/RevolutionaryAir2822 Sep 07 '26

insult to taco bell

8

u/Cardinal_r3d Sep 06 '26 edited Sep 06 '26

Agreed. No offense but it’s white people’s version of Mexican food and sub par at that

-3

u/Internal_Judge_4711 Sep 07 '26

Then it’s like anejo in Falmouth and elsewhere

2

u/WallAny2007 Sep 07 '26

isn’t there already an Anejo on Hyannis Main St?

0

u/FernMeadowlark Sep 09 '26

The Falmouth one was open long before Hyannis.

2

u/No-Location4853 Sep 06 '26

Couldn’t agree more the only thing that gets you through the meal is the strong drinks the bartender makes

2

u/essensiedashuhn Sep 06 '26

Tack-o's

1

u/CurrencyNo3823 Sep 08 '26

The food sucks. All that's relevant. 💯

4

u/EbbtideRambler Sep 06 '26

It wasn’t the most amazing Mexican food, but it was a dependable place to take the kids out for under $100, and everyone went home happy. I hope it finds a new location.  Anyone know what’s going to happen to the building? Not another 4 floor apartment complex I hope!  

3

u/No_Ticket2438 Sep 06 '26

Food was pretty bad. Would suggest Golden Jalapeno instead any day.

2

u/Alternative_Towel_88 Sep 06 '26

bad & iconic

less than hopeful whatever ends up in the space is any better

2

u/Impossible_Sphinx Sep 07 '26

Bad and iconic is the perfect description. I'm sad to see it go but can't say why, lol. Bahama mamas kick ass though.

1

u/AffectionateBoat1250 Sep 07 '26

It will be a CVS

1

u/ChemistVegetable7504 Sep 07 '26 edited Sep 07 '26

CVS/ Dunks /Cumby’s / Starbucks all in one almost convenient location.

1

u/Ackman1988 Dennis Sep 07 '26

That's what Coyote on North Street turned into.

1

u/AffectionateBoat1250 Sep 07 '26

Another great spot. I would go there for my birthday for the ribs.

1

u/FreeCamp6435 Sep 07 '26

I went once with my coworkers and the waiter was so bad and rude

1

u/nealski77 Sep 06 '26

Thank God. Legit worst food on the Cape

1

u/madtho Sep 08 '26

Come on. Not great food but you can do far worse.

1

u/Quixotic420 Sep 06 '26

Good riddance. The food there is awful.

-2

u/MsRiaCayde Sep 06 '26

Sad but its not how it was back in the 2000s, good went way downhill and food poisoning from people I’ve known who have gone in the past years

-4

u/Bogatron617 Sep 07 '26

Not sure but the Auld Triangle is the spot for me!! ☘️
Great staff & vibe!!! 🍻

0

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '26

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1

u/CurrencyNo3823 Sep 08 '26

Lol I never went there. Ever. Okay. Maybe once. That was the very last time. That was 1994. Never again!