It is harder and harder for small restaurateurs to hold on against the tide of fast casualization, and classic institutions close shop for reasons other than retirement. Sbarro has closed its Times Square location after 23 years. In perhaps a sign of the times, the news passed without much notice, except in a release shared by QSR magazine, and a more recent thread on Reddit. It’s nothing but disrespect for a New York institution.
According to QSR, the cause of the closing was failed lease negotiations; the lease had expired and would not be renewed. It’s been a rough few years for Sbarro, and not even because of the quality of its pizza. The chain filed for bankruptcy in 2014 and its number of locations dwindled by more than half from 1998 to 2016. All may not be lost, though, as Sbarro CEO David Karam says they are searching for a new location in Times Square. Still, that’s no guarantee.
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