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Sbarro says it will close 155 locations
PHILLY.COM ^ | Wednesday, February 19, 2014, 6:22 | The Associated Press

Posted on 02/20/2014 9:16:19 AM PST by Phillyred

Edited on 02/20/2014 11:02:36 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

Sbarro Inc. says it's closing 155 of its U.S. locations, mostly in mall food courts where traffic has declined. The Melville, N.Y.-based pizza chain said Wednesday the closures affect 1,400 workers. The move comes as the company is trying to improve its financial performance and update its image under yet another CEO who took over just last year. Jonathan Dedmon, a representative for Sbarro, says the targeted locations will close Thursday. "The last day of business is today," he wrote in an email. Sbarro filed for bankruptcy protection in April 2012 when it was no longer able to contend with declining sales and rising costs. It emerged from Chapter 11 protection in November 2012, saying that it had significantly cut its debt and received a new $35 million capital infusion. Shortly after, it named James Greco, a former head of bagel chain Bruegger's Enterprises, as its CEO. Greco led a push to revitalize the chain's image by touting new recipes and ovens. But the efforts apparently didn't take hold; Sbarro named David Karam its CEO last year. Dedmon did not respond when asked why Greco was replaced. Sbarro owns 400 locations in North America. The closures do not affect the additional 175 Sbarro locations in the region that are owned by franchisees. After the closures, Sbarro said it will operate 800 stores worldwide, including 81 that were opened last year.


(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bhoeconomy; layoffs; sbarro
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Some 2014 Hope n Change news.
1 posted on 02/20/2014 9:16:19 AM PST by Phillyred
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To: Phillyred
mall food courts where traffic has declined

Sounds like more food and other retailers will be joining them.

2 posted on 02/20/2014 9:18:26 AM PST by RightGeek (FUBO and the donkey you rode in on)
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To: Phillyred

I can’t remember ever seeing one outside of a mall food court. And I can’t remember the last time I went to a mall, so I guess this doesn’t surprise me.


3 posted on 02/20/2014 9:18:45 AM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg

I’ve seen them only in truck stops .... guess it depends on life-style where you see ‘em.


4 posted on 02/20/2014 9:22:31 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
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To: Phillyred

Interesting since 2 weeks ago “Hot Dog on a Stick” went under too.
Very interesting.


5 posted on 02/20/2014 9:23:24 AM PST by Zathras
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To: Phillyred

Sbarro’s is on every air base and Army post. Every PX/BX has one.

I doubt those are affected.


6 posted on 02/20/2014 9:24:50 AM PST by Old Sarge (TINVOWOOT: There Is No Voting Our Way Out Of This)
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To: Phillyred

The first thought through my mind was:
“Could this decision have been finalized as a reaction to the soon to be MANDATED increase in the Minimum Wage.
Sbarros is exactly the type of business that will/would be badly impacted by a large unsustainable increase in labor costs. This may well have been the LAST STRAW, the one to break the Camel’s back.
When you are hanging on by your fingernails, what do you do when someone steps on your hands?
Just thinking, mind you.


7 posted on 02/20/2014 9:24:54 AM PST by CaptainAmiigaf (NY TIMES: We print the news as it fits our views.)
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To: Phillyred

“Greco led a push to revitalize the chain’s image by touting new recipes and ovens”

I cannot remember seeing one commercial or advertisement about that change. Then again, I honestly couldn’t’ tell you where the closest Sbarro’s was in my town. I don’t do shopping malls if I can’t help it, and that seems to be where they do (or did) most of their business.

The one time I did eat at Sbarro’s, I wasn’t impressed with the pie at all. Maybe I’m buying into the hype a bit, or maybe I just had a bad experience, but I expected more from a place touting NY-style pizza.


8 posted on 02/20/2014 9:25:05 AM PST by DemforBush (A Repo Man is *always* intense.)
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To: Phillyred

Mall food courts could be doing booming business and it wouldn’t make Sbarro’s pizza taste any less awful.


9 posted on 02/20/2014 9:25:13 AM PST by gdani
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To: knarf

See my post. Lifestyle, indeed...


10 posted on 02/20/2014 9:25:21 AM PST by Old Sarge (TINVOWOOT: There Is No Voting Our Way Out Of This)
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To: Phillyred

More social fallout to be laid at the feet of our Marxist-in-Chief.


11 posted on 02/20/2014 9:29:34 AM PST by Jack Hammer
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To: DemforBush

I’ve had the unfortunate experience of eating at one of those. It’s been a while, but the basic awfulness of the food is still fresh in my mind.


12 posted on 02/20/2014 9:30:45 AM PST by Noumenon (Resistance. Restoration. Retribution.)
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To: Phillyred

Never been to one but when Domino’s had the same problem, they simply built a better pizza.


13 posted on 02/20/2014 9:32:19 AM PST by edcoil ( "All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone." - Blaise Pascal)
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To: Noumenon
they're (Menu) isn't all that tasty.."cardboard pizza"..

14 posted on 02/20/2014 9:34:39 AM PST by skinkinthegrass (The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun..0'Caligula / 0'Reid / 0'Pelosi)
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To: Noumenon

Sbarro’s are closing?

No problem. I’ll get some cardboard. Spread some thin tomato sauce on it. And a little chhese.

Problem solved.


15 posted on 02/20/2014 9:35:43 AM PST by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: DoodleDawg
I can’t remember ever seeing one outside of a mall food court.

other than mall food courts, i have seen them in airport food courts...

16 posted on 02/20/2014 9:36:29 AM PST by latina4dubya (when i have money i buy books... if i have anything left, i buy 6-inch heels and a bottle of wine...)
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To: DemforBush
Maybe I’m buying into the hype a bit, or maybe I just had a bad experience, but I expected more from a place touting NY-style pizza.

It wasn't you. I've eaten at the place in a number of different states, mostly when I'm really hungry and I always expect the pizza to be better than it turns out to be. It's just not very good pizza.

17 posted on 02/20/2014 9:37:20 AM PST by Malsua
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To: DoodleDawg

There used to be a number of them in airports, but they “improved” the food to the point where it became inedible, so those have been dwindling the last couple of years.


18 posted on 02/20/2014 9:38:46 AM PST by Arm_Bears (Shoot cops that shoot dogs.)
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To: Zathras
Did someone say "Hot dog on a stick?"
19 posted on 02/20/2014 9:39:47 AM PST by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: RightGeek

They already closed our local Sony Store two weeks ago, had no idea til I went to the mall a few days ago and was told they closed down due to lack of business


20 posted on 02/20/2014 9:42:23 AM PST by Sarah Barracuda
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