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{{about|the American food chain|the Swiss automobile producer|Sbarro (automobile)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox company
| name           = Sbarro, LLC
| logo   = Sbarro logo.svg
| logo_size = 160px
| type   = [[Privately held company|Private]]
|  key_people     = Gennaro and Carmela Sbarro (founders) <br />J. David Karam ([[CEO]] and [[President (corporate title)|President]])
| industry       = Food
| products       = [[Italian-American cuisine]], [[pizza]], [[pasta]], [[salad]]s
| foundation     = {{start date and age|1956}}<br>[[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| location       = [[Columbus, Ohio]], U.S.
| locations      = Over 800
| homepage       = {{URL|https://www.sbarro.com/|www.Sbarro.com}}
}}

'''Sbarro, LLC''' is a [[list of pizza chains|pizzeria chain]] that specializes in [[New York style pizza]] sold [[Pizza by the slice|by the slice]] and other [[Italian-American cuisine]]. In 2011, the company was ranked 15th in foreign system wide sales among U.S.-based quick-serve and fast-casual companies by ''QSR Magazine''.<ref>[http://www.qsrmagazine.com/content/global-30?sort=non_us_sales&dir=desc 2011 non-U.S. system wide sales] Retrieved July 11. 2015</ref> In 2008, Sbarro was rated the #1 Quick Service Restaurant in the Italian segment by ''[[Entrepreneur (magazine)|Entrepreneur]]'' magazine. Not all reports were positive, as the food quality had been criticized,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2014/07/02/11-Worst-Fast-Food-Restaurants-America|title=11 Worst Fast Food Restaurants in America|work=The Fiscal Times|access-date=2018-08-04|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2011/05/sborring.html|title=The state of Sbarro: America's least essential restaurant.|work=Slate Magazine|accessdate=October 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://consumerist.com/2014/07/02/sbarro-is-the-worst-fast-food-chain-in-america-because-its-food-isnt-fresh/ Fast food chain] consumerist.com/2014/07/02</ref> with a suggestion that this was a factor that led to two bankruptcies.<ref>[https://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/13/this-is-the-real-reason-sbarro-is-in-bankruptcy/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=1 Sbarro is in bankruptcy] economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/13/</ref>
Sbarro has over 800 locations in 33 countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbarro.com/about/|title=About Sbarro - Get the Story Behind the Slice|publisher=|accessdate=August 7, 2018}}</ref> Sbarro stores are located in [[shopping mall]]s, [[airport]]s, [[Rest area|service areas]], and [[college campus]]es, as well as in [[The Pentagon]], American [[naval base]]s, and [[casino]]s.

== History ==

=== 20th century ===
Sbarro was founded in 1956 by Gennaro and Carmela Sbarro. The couple and their three sons, Joseph, Mario, and Anthony immigrated to America from [[Naples]], [[Italy]]. The same year, the Sbarro family opened their first salumeria (an Italian grocery store) at 1701 65th Street and 17th Avenue in [[Bensonhurst]], [[Brooklyn, New York]], which became popular for its fresh food and [[Italian cuisine|Italian]] fare.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} Its original location closed down in 2004.

The success of the Sbarro Salumeria led to the opening of additional locations in the [[New York City]] metropolitan area. In 1970, Sbarro opened its first [[shopping mall|mall]]-based restaurant in Brooklyn's [[Kings Plaza Shopping Center]]. One of their busiest outlets was located in the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] mall, though it was destroyed in the [[September 11th attacks|9/11 attacks]] in 2001.

===21st century===
{{see also|Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing}}
[[File:2015-05-11 16 22 23 Sbarro restaurant at the Commodore Perry Service Plaza along the Ohio Turnpike (Interstates 80 and 90) in Riley Township, Sandusky County, Ohio.jpg|thumb|right|Sbarro at the Commodore Perry Service Plaza along the [[Ohio Turnpike]]]]
In early 2007, Sbarro was acquired by [[MidOcean Partners]], a [[private equity]] firm with offices in New York and London.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |work=Sbarro, Inc. |url=http://www.sbarro.com/aboutUs/history.php |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810002227/http://www.sbarro.com/aboutUs/history.php |archivedate=August 10, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The company filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] protection on April 4, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sbarro Chapter 11 Petition|url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/view/QPYCXHA/Sbarro_LLC__nysbke-14-10557__0049.0.pdf|website=PacerMonitor|publisher=PacerMonitor|accessdate=9 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kary |first=Tiffany |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-04/sbarro-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-after-restaurant-chain-s-sales-slid.html |title=Sbarro, Mall Restaurant Chain, Seeks Bankruptcy Protection |publisher=Bloomberg |date=April 4, 2011 |accessdate=April 11, 2011}}</ref> At the time it was ranked by Pizza Today as the country's fifth-largest pizza chain.<ref name="Karp">{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pizza-trouble-20110411,0,6525994.story | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Gregory | last=Karp | title=Pizza restaurants feeling bite from consumer options | date=April 10, 2011}}</ref> It was the third-largest pizza chain to declare bankruptcy in less than a year. Earlier, [[Round Table Pizza]] (ranked no. 10) and [[Uno Chicago Grill]] (ranked no. 11), through its parent Uno Restaurant Holdings, filed bankruptcy. Uno has since reemerged.<ref name="Karp"/>

In November 2011, Sbarro was granted court approval to emerge from bankruptcy under a plan requiring restructuring and ceding ownership to lenders; 25 sites were closed.<ref name=stych2011/> In January 2012, [[James J. Greco]] was brought in CEO of Sbarro to implement a turnaround plan as the company emerged from bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fastcasual.com/articles/james-greco-former-brueggers-ceo-joins-sbarro/|title=James Greco, former Bruegger's CEO, joins Sbarro|work=www.fastcasual.com|accessdate=October 20, 2015}}</ref> Sbarro rebranded, updating its pizza recipe, food offerings, and branding, bringing fresh ingredients back to the forefront of the menu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qsrmagazine.com/reports/rise-fall-and-rise-sbarro|title=Sbarro Restaurant Company Fights Back From Bankruptcy - QSR magazine|work=qsrmagazine.com|accessdate=October 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/09/business/new-sbarro-pizza-recipe-to-drive-chains-turnaround-plans.html?_r=0|title=New Sbarro Pizza Recipe to Drive Chain’s Turnaround Plans|first=Stephanie|last=Strom|publisher=|accessdate=August 7, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Christiana Mall Sbarro.jpg|thumb|left|Sbarro at the [[Christiana Mall]] in [[Newark, Delaware]]]]
On March 15, 2012, Sbarro announced a franchise agreement with Upper Crust Foods Pvt. Ltd. to open restaurants in the [[India]]n state of [[Maharashtra]]. The franchisee will develop and operate the restaurants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210034002/http://sbarro.com/news/news.php?id=59|title=Sbarro - News|date=February 10, 2014|publisher=|accessdate=August 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.franchiseindia.com/Sbarro-set-for-India-expansion-1512|title=Franchise India - Business Opportunities, Franchise Opportunities|work=franchiseindia.com|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref> The first outlet opened in [[Chembur]], [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/restaurant-review-panki-sbarro/story-iy6YummymtszMhSncQnicO.html|title=Restaurant Review: Panki, Sbarro|date=March 23, 2012|publisher=|accessdate=August 7, 2018}}</ref> In July 2015 Sbarro announced that they planned to expand to 50 outlets in two years, from the 17 they had then.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Pizza Chain Sbarro to Raise Store Count to 50 in 2 Years - NDTV Food|url = http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/pizza-chain-sbarro-to-raise-store-count-to-50-in-2-years-783203|accessdate = July 21, 2015}}</ref>

In March 2013, Sbarro announced that J. David Karam would be the next CEO of the company.<ref><Eaton, Dan (May 3, 2013) [http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2013/05/wendys-experience-helping-guide-new.html "Wendy’s experience helping guide new Sbarro CEO David Karam"] ''Columbus Biz Insider''</ref> In March of the following year, the company again filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Sbarro announced on June 3, 2014, that they had exited from bankruptcy protection on June 2 based on a reorganization plan as approved by the court on May 19. 182 locations were closed and the company announced plans to move its headquarters from [[New York City]] to [[Columbus, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://finance.yahoo.com/news/sbarro-says-exited-bankruptcy-protection-165703403--finance.html |title=Sbarro says it exited bankruptcy protection |date=June 4, 2014 |work=Yahoo Finance |archivedate=March 5, 2016 |deadurl=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305001016/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/sbarro-says-exited-bankruptcy-protection-165703403--finance.html |df= }}</ref>

In January 2015, Sbarro's logo changed from a design resembling the Italian national flag, to an outline of a pizza slice in red and green, with the words "NYC.1956" to recollect the establishment's Brooklyn origins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nrn.com/fast-casual/sbarro-joins-fast-casual-pizza-race |title=Sbarro joins fast-casual pizza race |work=nrn.com |archivedate=March 22, 2016 |deadurl=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322041428/http://nrn.com/fast-casual/sbarro-joins-fast-casual-pizza-race |df= }}</ref>

In 2016 Sbarro had 318 locations in the U.S., less than half of 12 years earlier.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eater.com/2016/5/6/11593764/sbarro-food-court-pizza|title=Is There Life After the Mall for Sbarro?|work=Eater|access-date=2018-02-25}}</ref>  The decline of mall food courts and changing dietary choices among Americans are felt to be the major factors in Sbarro's regression.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/death-of-the-mall-food-court-2017-2|title=DEATH OF THE FOOD COURT: Iconic mall chains like Cinnabon, Sbarro, and Panda Express are transforming to survive|work=Business Insider|access-date=2018-02-25}}</ref>

==Cucinova==

In October 2013, Sbarro opened the first location of their fast-casual concept called Cucinova. The restaurants feature [[Neapolitan pizza|Neapolitan-style]] pizzas made to order with fresh, high-end ingredients and baked in woodstone ovens in under three minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/10/14/new-fast-casual-pizza-concept-coming.html|title=New fast-casual pizza concept coming to Kenwood: EXCLUSIVE|date=October 14, 2013|work=Cincinnati Business Courier|accessdate=October 20, 2015}}</ref> Cucinova has multiple locations in [[Ohio]] and [[Illinois]].

==In popular culture==

Sbarro was featured in the season 2 episode "[[Valentine's Day (The Office)|Valentine's Day]]" of the American television series [[The Office (U.S. TV series)|''The Office'']].  While Michael Scott was in New York City on a business trip, he eats pizza at Sbarro, which he claims is his "favorite New York pizza joint".

==See also==
* [[List of pizza chains of the United States]]
{{Portalbar|New York|Companies|Food}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=stych2011>{{Citation |last=Stych |first=Ed |publication-date=November 18, 2011 |accessdate=December 21, 2011
 |title=Sbarro pizza gets court approval to exit bankruptcy |periodical=[[Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal]]
 |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2011/11/18/sbarro-pizza-coming-out-of-bankruptcy.html?ana=e_pft }}</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website|https://www.sbarro.com/}}

{{Pizza chains}}
{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}

[[Category:Companies based in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1956]]
[[Category:Multinational companies]]
[[Category:Pizza chains of the United States]]
[[Category:Pizza franchises]]
[[Category:Fast-food chains of the United States]]
[[Category:Privately held companies based in Ohio]]
[[Category:Restaurant chains in the United States]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2014]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1956]]
[[Category:Defunct restaurant chains in Israel]]
[[Category:Restaurants in Ohio]]