Case Study: Sambo’s achieves labor compliance, halves scheduling time and reduces labor costs with 7shifts

Why Sambo's Restaurant Uses 7shifts

Sambo’s Restaurant, a longtime breakfast-and-lunch staple on the Santa Barbara coast since 1957, is run by owner Chad Stevens and employs about 35 staff who peak during the summer season. Despite consistent popularity, Sambo’s faced scheduling inefficiencies, time-clock issues (staff clocking in early), and the risk of costly California labor-law penalties while managing schedules and manager notes in Excel.

To solve this, Sambo’s implemented 7shifts (integrated with TouchBistro) including the 7punches time clock, manager log book, and messaging tools. The change improved compliance with break rules, stopped early clock-ins, halved scheduling time, improved team communication, and delivered measurable savings—about 2% in labor costs and a few thousand dollars in recent savings—while giving Chad centralized visibility and control.

Sambo's

Chad Stevens

Owner