Sbarro, LLC is an American fast food restaurant that specializes in New York–style pizza sold by the slice and other Italian-American cuisine. In 2011, the company was ranked 15th in foreign sales among U.S.-based quick-serve and fast-casual companies by QSR Magazine.[1] In 2008, Sbarro was rated the No. 1 Quick Service Restaurant in the Italian segment by Entrepreneur magazine. However, diners and critics have criticized the quality of the food,[2][3][4] with some suggesting a link between food quality and the company's two bankruptcies.[5]
Sbarro has over 600 locations in 28 countries.[6] Sbarro stores are located in shopping malls, airports, service areas, and collegecampuses, as well as in The Pentagon, American naval bases, and casinos.
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 fare.[citation needed] Its original location closed 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 mall-based restaurant in Brooklyn's Kings Plaza Shopping Center. One of their busiest outlets was one of two which were both located in the World Trade Center, with the busiest in the mall underneath the complex, while the other was at the observation deck on the South Tower.[7] However, both outlets were destroyed during the September 11 attacks in 2001.
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 4, 2011.[10][11] At the time it was ranked by Pizza Today as the country's fifth-largest pizza chain.[12] 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 emerged.[12]
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.[13] In January 2012, James J. Greco was brought in as CEO of Sbarro to implement a turnaround plan as the company emerged from bankruptcy.[14] Sbarro rebranded, updating its pizza recipe, food offerings, and branding, and bringing fresh ingredients back to the forefront of the menu.[15][16]
On March 15, 2012, Sbarro announced a franchise agreement with Upper Crust Foods Pvt. Ltd. to open restaurants in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The franchise will develop and operate the restaurants.[17] In July 2015, Sbarro announced that they planned to expand to 50 outlets in two years, from the 17 they had then.[18]
In March 2013, Sbarro announced that J. David Karam would be the next CEO of the company.[19] 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. One hundred and eighty-two locations were closed and the company announced plans to move its headquarters from New York CitytoColumbus, Ohio.[20]
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.[21]
In 2016, Sbarro had 318 locations in the U.S., less than half of 12 years earlier.[22] The decline of mall food courts and changing dietary choices among Americans are felt to be the major factors in Sbarro's regression.[23]
On November 5, 2020, Sbarro announced it had agreed a partnership with the EG Group, a UK-based retail group, to enter the UK market, with the first store opening in EG’s Armada location in Birmingham, West Midlands.[24][25][disputed – discuss] As of June 22, 2022, Sbarro has 15 stores in the UK, 7 of which are located within the North WestofEngland. It plans to expand its locations throughout 2022.[26]
Response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine[edit]
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sbarro Pizza refused to join the international community's withdrawal from the Russian market. Research from Yale University that covered how companies were reacting to Russia's invasion identified Sbarro in the worst category of "Digging In", meaning "Defying Demands for Exit: companies defying demands for exit/reduction of activities". They received the lowest possible grade for continuing business as usual.[27]
In October 2013, Sbarro opened the first location of their fast-casual concept called Cucinova. The restaurants featured Neapolitan-style pizzas made to order with fresh, high-end ingredients and baked in woodstone ovens in under three minutes.[28] Cucinova had multiple locations in Ohio and Texas before closing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[29]
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