The Decline of Sbarro...What Happened?

Sbarro is a major U.S. pizza chain that you probably know best from their delicious smelling pizza stands inside shopping malls. Well, they haven't been doing well lately, evidenced by their multiple bankruptcy filings over the past decade. This video attempts to explain what happened.
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[@TheLostWorldFanChann]

*"The Decline of Sbarro...What Happened? "* Charging $4.89 for *ONE* slice of pizza that's been sitting under a hot lamp for 48mins. That's what happened.

[@crazydubwise]

Once I have a $15 lunch, not tasty art all. Expensive and bad.

[@1985toyotacamry]

@@crazydubwise I tried it and it sucks

[@donatoiacovino6968]

lol exactly

[@idkijs435]

that shit still good asf...

[@IsaacMendoza0301]

Yup

[@ME-hm7zm]

We used to have a saying: "No one ever plans to go to Sbarro, you just kind of end up there."

[@Flexin010]

🤣😂🤣

[@MoistChungus]

Denny's

[@erichobbs4042]

I used to say that about Denny's.

[@christophervergara4234]

That was an old joke about Dennys.

[@elegant.destiny]

Facts

[@johnellis5828]

I was a general manager for Sbarro in Hawaii. The upper management was CLUELESS on how to operate a restaurant. My area manager especially. He had some good managers below him, so he looked "okay" numbers-wise, but was truly clueless about how a restaurant worked.

[@iavalui7614]

did you work at the one in pearl ridge??

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Spank Bang USD SGD

[@sauvignonblanc0]

This happens when 'more money than sense' is added to the equation. Daddy's money or 3 higher-level degrees do not replace 10 years' experience. I speak generally from what I have seen over the years

[@nunyabeezwax6758]

You know just hire me as a manager/upper manager. Let me actually just deal with the lower management or experienced persons and get the input and feedback on how the individual stores are doing, how things are working etc. But nooooooo........everywhere has to be run completely stupid instead.

[@jay_suby1718]

I used to work at mililani one lol

[@solomongrim982]

This guy that is presenting this content is alright with me. Very informative without coming across snobish or aloof. I honestly, automatically get in a good mood when I watch Company Man he has a Mr. Roger's quality about him and true fan's of Mr.Roger's know that is a genuine compliment to this content creator. I wish him success and growth of his brand.

[@companyman114]

Thank you for the kind words. You've lifted my spirits today.

[@alphakub]

Funny enough, the Sbarro at the local mall closed about five years ago and became a hummus shop. After two years, the hummus shop closed and become a Sbarro again!

[@Virjunior01]

Like a pigeon, rising from the barrel fire.

[@matthewverhage1282]

Lol! About 5 years ago our Sbarros (which was there since the beginning of the mall, around 1993) ended up becoming the first Kebab place in our town. It's still there, it's pretty good.

[@Virjunior01]

@@matthewverhage1282 good trade

[@modgoat2594]

By chance this a mall in southern California in a place with tons and tons of oak trees?

[@alphakub]

@@modgoat2594 sure is, at least a thousand of them oak trees. You know your Sbarros!

[@JustAnotherPest]

1:00 "Along with their three sons: Left, Naples, Italy" Took me a second to realize you weren't naming them off.

[@katelily7619]

Same here. LMAO 😂

[@Kenchinito2207]

IKR? I was like "those are some weird names for your children"

[@aaronpatrickmusic]

When he said that, I did the "excuse me, what?" blink and head movement that the guy in that meme did

[@paintlover2010]

SAME! 😂

[@EffingAndJeffing]

Same! Lmao

[@KennieBby]

I actually like Sbarro as a kid. It was the only pizza place in the mall, and like others have commented, the slices were huge. We also had one on my college campus - UNR - but this was several years ago. I’m not a pizza connoisseur, but I enjoyed it and idk if it’s the nostalgia or me actually liking the pizza, but I crave it at times. Too bad the nearest one is about 20 miles out from me

[@Dominus4776]

I don't think their pizza is any worse than a typical chain. It's pretty good if you can manage to get it fresh out the oven

[@Wooster77]

They could merge with Subway and call it Subarro.

[@ArtemisiaDS3]

-_-

[@benitopulatso6637]

Modern problems call for modern solutions.

[@Robert0Pirie]

Merge Subay, Sbarro, and Izzo's Illegal Burrito... Subarrito... BOOM you just made a million dollars!

[@nicotti]

Funny. Subway expanded their menu to include mini pizzas a few years back. I assume it wasn't very popular as I don't see them on menus any more.

[@dawsonfoorfour]

Or they could merge with Subaru and call it Subaruroo.

[@DreSama336]

Why? Charging 6.50 for a slice of room temp Pizza that’s why

[@80s_Boombox_Collector]

Also shopping malls are losing lots of shoppers

[@baam25th31]

For the quality it shouldn't be more than $2 per slice

[@actionscott8033]

Came here for this comment lol l was going to say the same thing two slices and a drink is like 15 dollars THATS INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s literally a large pizza and wings anywhere else

[@michaelavalos8619]

@@80s_Boombox_Collector before the virus my mall was non stop packed all the damn time. So much traffic in that area

[@dvon1097]

Dre Sama U can go to a REAL pizza place by REAL Italians and get a good dollar-2 dollar slice unlike shitty Sbarro

[@auxc.6805]

I remember going to this place in a mall when I was a kid with my father. It’s one of the best core memories I’ve had with him. I wish time could go in reverse. Truly one of a kind moments back in the day that cannot be replicated now due to social media.

[@Bluzlbee]

replicate? the world is collapsing, lol social media is a tip iceberg problem

[@necoji4910]

LMAO what the fuck is this supposed to mean😭😭

[@auxc.6805]

@@Bluzlbeeyeah that’s what I was trying to say….I want to go back in time when it was the good days. What are you talking about?

[@F4billionyearzag0]

I feel you 100%! Nothing like the good old days! I wish I had a time machine. Is your father still around?

[@SquirefromtheShire]

What’s craziest about the decline of Sbarro is the number of restaurants that have tried to copy their model. There’s a place called “Slices” here in Seattle that does the exact same thing of leaving pre-cooked pizzas out all day and re-heating them when someone orders a slice. And they charge nearly $10 per slice. It’s ridiculous.

[@dutchvanderlinde4713]

$10?!?!?! My dude that is highway fucking ROBBERY!!

[@DefundTheChurch]

10 bucks a slice is wild af for heat lamp pizza , that’s more like wood fire we makin slices all day fresh type beat

[@chrisjenkins203]

Ain’t no one charging $10/slice. This guy is telling lies.

[@chrisjenkins203]

I just looked it up and found the menu. Five fifty for a slice of plain chz, which is a crazy rip-off but the op cappin claimin it’s ten bucks.

[@SquirefromtheShire]

@@chrisjenkins203 well I did say nearly, and unless your getting cheese the next cheapest slices are $6.5/7.10 after tax. Also that’s at their one location downtown. They serve their pizzas in vending machines a few of the nearby hotels and those are legit $9-11 just to have the hours-old pizza warmed up by a robot toaster oven for you.

[@brettrobinson9713]

How come company man always sounds like he is shrugging his shoulders

[@MLHunt]

Dude you put your finger on something I've been feeling subconsciously!

[@MrTeamFoolish]

He's actually an investor in all of the company he talks about - regardless of their success.

[@shamaal123]

He's reading this shrugging😂

[@daisysaurora888]

YES TRUEE

[@wow-si6th]

I literally could not figure out why his voice sounded weird but this explains everything

[@bongodrummond4638]

I’m Italian and 48 yard old. I can tell you when I was a kid, Sbarro made REALLY good food. I swear they must have changed their recipes when the old man died and they went public.

[@desertguy1362]

Most likely when the kids took over it was go cheap and go big margins. Should of stayed small and focus on quality but greed wins again

[@Chironex_Fleckeri]

Kids also enjoy Chuck e Cheese pizza, sooo... I don't remember it being great, just decent.

[@williams7368]

Bongo Drummond In the beginning, they would have been selective about their ingredients. Eventually, though, the drive to reduce costs means cheaper commercial ingredients, pre-prepared pizza crusts and fake cheese.

[@johnbrentford5513]

I'm 47 and back in the 80's their pizza was good.

[@Scott-yf1zn]

Bongo Drummond it probably is also tied to with your nostalgia for your childhood.

[@Tirleaf]

Personally, I really liked Sbarro pizza, the stuffed pepperoni and sausage, with extra marinara sauce on top. At the time, that was favorite pizza, second only to Numero Uno pizza. Always made a point of stopping by and getting my fix whenever in a mall. Rarely ordered the "traditional" pizza slices, but do not recall it ever being bad. Damn! Now I have a craving for some Sbarro 😁

[@RebornLegacy]

That stuffed meat lovers slice with marinara sauce was addictive as hell in College.

[@robertbeckman2054]

I agree with most of what you said concerning the quality and taste. BUT, this one time, I was at the SLC airport and it was breakfast time as I was waiting for a flight. A Sbarro’s just opened up for the day. I ordered and ate in quick fashion the freshest, most delicious Stromboli I’ve EVER had. Damn, that was good.

[@nocap4739]

Carmela and Gennaro along with their three sons: Left, Naples, Italy.

[@BStop22]

Omg!! Dying! 😂😂

[@stevendiazzalduondo1899]

😂

[@vilmapaints1186]

Lmao 😂😂😂

[@mehrdadcerti]

Not funny Didn’t laugh

[@xoxoLeony]

Yes.

[@Gaudy6523]

Each time I smell a Sbarro in a mall, I'm reminded that I haven't Sbarro in a while. Each time I have Sbarro, I'm reminded of just why I haven't had Sbarro in a while...

[@jamessanders145]

It's just not the same anymore.

[@r.g.431]

Gaudy6523 couldnt have said it better!

[@logan502]

RIGHT!?!?!?

[@DiiceForeveroO]

the cycle of life

[@LordVoldemort31]

I have this same exact experience with Panda Express.

[@conradblume4274]

EXCELLENT channel! You should do a video on how you research these companies

[@mattgraham9515]

This was such an interesting video. Thanks for making it. I always wondered what happened to this chain, which I first saw on one of my first visits to America in 1995, in NYC. Now I live here, and I barely see a Sbarro anywhere. I always wondered what happened to them...

[@PacDork]

When I was like 10, Sbarro was my favorite pizza...loved getting it at the mall. It was probably trash, but when you're 10, pizza is pizza.

[@ballista7367]

This guy gets it

[@uliflores2408]

True sbarro was my favorite when I was younger and I sware the slices were huge but maybe it was just cause I was small lol. I tried it again when I was older and it was trash and I gave it another try at a different location to make sure it wasnt just that one experience but the second time was trash too and I never went back after that. I still am in search of that sbarro pizza flavor from when I was young but have yet to experience it anywhere else sadly

[@tomhill3248]

@@uliflores2408 Have you tried, making your own? Sometimes there's instruction on the back of flour bags. There even instant crust packets sold in grocery stores. How hard could it be?

[@Nestle245]

Same as me but everyone I know says it used to taste way better many years ago, now it doesn't taste the same, they changed it up.

[@ChriSaito]

When I worked at a mall not long ago I'd frequent Sbarro. The pizza isn't great but isn't bad. What really kept me going back though was those bomb bread sticks.

[@yeln4tsmusic]

Because they lost one of their biggest clients Michael Scott

[@G8GT]

Everyone’s favorite New York pizza joint

[@ThePhantomLurkin]

He's the godfather

[@lunnalocca9376]

I’m screaming 🤣🤣

[@Buapo]

He had to get his New York slice

[@gregturkington6330]

That was actually a product placement

[@mewebb]

I travel the south and eastern US quite a bit and I've been seeing them in truck stops a lot. This would be a great alternative to malls where you've still got a captive audience and much less immediate competition. That can't be bad for business.

[@Fudgeey]

I'd totally buy Sbarros out of a gas station instead of the Hunt's Brothers pizza we have now.

[@mairhart]

Absolutely! If they could maintain the standard Sbarro's "quality" they would do much better sales than, say, Godfather's kiosks. Sbarro's could also do really well at 7-Eleven or Circle K -- again, if minimarts could maintain the Sbarro's standards, such as they are.

[@harrywisniewski5017]

@@Fudgeeyhunts brothers is awful

[@airborneace]

A trip to the mall wasnt complete without a slice from Sbarro growing up

[@mblegend3056]

When your business is located mostly on shopping malls, then it will sink with the ship too.

[@collinhoeferlin43]

this. 1000%

[@twothreebravo]

It's almost as if that was the one hidden lesson in the last video about Kohl's who avoided malls like the plague.

[@regmarshall5619]

Don't forget airports.

[@timeshaft5088]

Both Chick-Fil-A and Orange Julius started in malls.

[@charlieanddadreviewsandcha2243]

incinerator1016 they used to have Orange Julius in Malls on the east coast. They just never really caught on.

[@M0JBK]

If I'm spending 5.00 on pizza, I can get 1 piece from Sbarro's, or a whole pizza from Little Caesars. Hmmm... Edit: I get way too many notifications about how crap little Caesars is. It's cheap pizza, not gonna deny there's better stuff out there. Really just trying to focus on the fact that Sbarro's is a terrible value.

[@ApollyonZKX]

Little Caesars is gourmet compared to Sbarro. Was really disappointed with Sbarro last time i went.

[@JohnJohnson-ik5zp]

Or dominos or fast 5 pizza or 7/11 haha

[@mabadillo5293]

Little Caesars is using cheap materials to make the pizza

[@John_Lee_]

I'd rather go hungry than buy a 5$ dollar pie

[@ridge4649]

2 different things. A little caesars isn't gonna be at a mall or airport. Sbarros is for when you're shopping with the family and you need something to hold you over til you're done shopping, or you're hungry before a flight and want a quick slice. Little Caesars is pizza you eat at home

[@autisticat-5649]

we had sbarro at a local mall, i remember eating it with my grandpa who was from Italy. Good memories. I miss him.

[@EQOAnostalgia]

I remember them in the 80's and 90's at the local mall. The one employee who stood out was just known as "Pizza pants man" simply due to the fact that he was never found on shift without his signature Pizza pants lol. The staff was always friendly a lively. Everyone remembers Sbarro, their marketing in malls was genius at the time.

[@damian_cross]

I met Mama Carmela Sbarro back in the 90's. The original deli was still open and my father had ordered a 12 foot sandwich for a catered event. She handed him this giant sandwich...this tiny old woman was STILL WORKING at that deli even though she was already a multi millionaire. It still blows my mind.

[@nightstar3765]

Things that never happened....

[@bgreene110]

When people say the extra ingredient is love that’s exactly what they mean even mediocre food made will care and passion will at worst be ok

[@JoseMartinez-gk2ke]

@@nightstar3765 this sounds very believable. Why didn’t this happen?

[@damian-77]

Cap

[@tru3293]

That's awesome

[@blampfno]

I can't even imagine a Sbarro sign without fully visualizing the food court as well. Hear the mall noise, too.

[@ArcherSF]

This comment wins .

[@ytsux9259]

What's a "mall"?

[@andrewbeadle3660]

And the smell 🤤

[@doldemenshubarti8696]

Sbarro failed because it's not exactly something fancy. Sure food court in a mall is not supposed to be Michellin star level dining but if people wanted Mcdonald's, they wouldn't go to a mall for that. Which is exactly why Mcdonald's/burgerking and other fast food do horrible at food courts in any mall but cheapest types. They didn't market themselves as fancy and was at Pizza hut tier in terms of quality. They would've done a lot better as corner stores near factories, warehouses, and university cafeteria.

[@shanecharles4589]

I also remember their food quality always being low and i would only go to them when my craving for pizza was stronger than getting some good Japanese or Chinese from the food court. Which was rare but definitely happened quite a few times.

[@kennethfharkin]

I miss their HQ on Boradhollow Road on Long Island NY. The building they were in had other businesses and a bank on the ground floor. Sbarro oversaw the cafeteria in the basement but this was a big step up. All the management went there and it was open to the public. Every day had some specials and it was really good. The entrance wasn’t marked though and you had to know about it to find the door leading down to it in the building. I worked nearby and went there often for lunch. They didn’t have pizza.

[@TheTabe]

I love Sbarro. Just had some! I think that it tastes better than a lot of the big chains like Pizza Hut, Dominos, and especially Papa Johns. As was said, everyone has their own tastes.

[@soulsick410]

"Along with their three sons, Left, Naples, and Italy...." is what my dumbass understood

[@redbarchetta5620]

I heard it that way too

[@poutinedream5066]

Right! I'm like, what kind of names are those?

[@lawlessx9]

Same!

[@RpJesus_1]

Me to man 😂

[@yondie491]

The narrator has a LOT to learn about verbal pacing. I wish I understood the modern style of being completely and utterly allergic to pauses. That's exactly how anyone listening would transcribe it as if they didn't know better.

[@TheSecondVersion]

"Sbarro: Fresh Italian Cooking" It ain't fresh, it ain't Italian, but at least it's cooked

[@Raskolnikov70]

Is it? Or are they just re-heating pre-made frozen products? Sorta how Applebees' lies and calls themselves a restaurant chain when they're just a place where your food is microwaved before they serve it to you.

[@Raskolnikov70]

@Smitty WerbenJagerManJensen Are the period and shift keys on your keyboard broken?

[@nordisk1874]

Hey they have one of the best Stromboli outside New York!

[@EliteGeeks]

their pizza is shit, I have had it 2 times in my life, once in 1988 and again in the mid 90s... never again

[@nordisk1874]

EliteGeeks yes but not the Stromboli

[@branevans3705]

My daughter and I use to love the Sbarros in the Aventura Mall. At one time, their food was excellent.

[@Stubbs___]

Bro, reading the name of sbarro hit me with a wave of nostalgia of going to the mall and eating other food in their dining area

[@21boxhead]

SBARRO IS FAILING BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE FOR ONE SLICE 5 BUCKS AND MOST LIKELY REHEATED COLD PIZZA

[@thethrashyone]

5 bucks a slice for subpar pizza? Talk about highway robbery. You could get an _entire_ subpar pizza at Little Caesar's for that much (plus tax).

[@PrinceSwaggy]

@@thethrashyone exactly

[@trublacking8572]

"Oh well sir eat cold-ass expensive pizza and sir eat grease and die" it what they say in my mind

[@TowerofAboveandBelow]

@@thethrashyone Not in the mall. Lol

[@shesuschrist4472]

The damn pizza was the size of a dollar pizza

[@beansperkins]

Along with their three sons: Left, Naples, and Italy

[@user-su9py5qm6f]

That's literally how my brain processed that 😂

[@cmdraftbrn]

funny names for kids.

[@patrickbrown8557]

I definitely thought this is what he was saying for a second as well.

[@apexone5502]

It did come off that way when I heard it. 😂😂😂

[@brettfriedman587]

@@user-su9py5qm6f Me too lol

[@thenerdnetwork]

I was driving on the interstate a couple years ago, and I saw a sign for Sbarro... I was like "OMG, I haven't had their pizza in so long! This is gonna be awesome!". So I stopped at the service plaza, and ordered 2 slices of arguably the worst New York style pizza that I have ever eaten, at the highest cost ever. I just will never eat there again. They took the pizza that was sitting in the display, threw it in a Subway looking oven microwave thing, and proceeded to burn the crap out of it. Nasty.

[@plankro8]

I love sbarro! Some of my favorite pizza growing up.. I love the sauce it so bright and actually tastes like it’s not super processed like every other chain

[@xMarkerz]

How could Sbarro be declining? It's Michael Scott's favorite NY pizza joint.

[@juicyfruit133]

xMarkerz lol that scene came to mind

[@Nagatem]

bongo, free pizza for life

[@toadfrommarioparty]

How did I forget about that?

[@Talisayin]

“I’m gonna get me a New York slice!”

[@zoomed8515]

Travels all the way to NY then 1 day later sees one on the way to work

[@ardreambystander6988]

They way you said “Left Naples Italy” made me think it was thier names lol.

[@publicenemy123]

I understood it as left nipple Italy

[@kcototheyoyoyo]

I know me reading the names and him saying different things confused the hell out of me for a second🥴

[@E3gamefreak123]

I was thinking the same EXACT thing!

[@lillianbegay3013]

Dead ass😂😂

[@lvlupent.7334]

"Left Sbarro" imma name my son that someday

[@icdeadpipol]

In the Philippines, Sbarro was a place of luxury and always found 1 branch per major shopping mall. Pretty hefty serving of Pizza but I usually had to settle for a Baked Zitti as it was less expensive. Unfortunately noticed around 2018, most branches started closing one-by-one and one branch at a nearby mall (Robinson's Galleria) which reopened in 2019 has now shutdown as of 2022. Still have fond memories of family and friends eating at their branches in SM North EDSA & SM Megamall.

[@cwcsquared]

I first encountered Sbarro at MOA.

[@paleoph6168]

​@@cwcsquaredmy first encounter was the branch at _Market! Market!_ which is still there up to this day (as of October 2023). If there's anything I miss from it, it's the Fish Francese because sometimes I used to have it ordered with the Baked Ziti when I was kid. It may not be as good as I remembered, but I still wish to try it just one more time to relive those good memories.

[@abdul_jaqul]

I was in the Philippines for vacation i think i saw it in greenbelt makati. If im not mistaken

[@415boomboom]

Sbarro and an orange julius was the staple combo meal for the mall ❤good times

[@TheWTFsauce]

Not gonna lie I actually loved their pizza but I never was like “let me drive out of my way to a mall just to get ONE slice”

[@WatchTheVideosOnline]

this is exactly how i feel about it

[@Artbug]

F in the chat for your tastebuds

[@Kruppt808]

It was the only pizza option in the food courts in the mall during the 90s and early 2000s. I never remember it tasting amazing or bad. After awhile the other options at the food courts got better so I stopped going.

[@caldreamin4250]

You lie, but understand

[@ThatMilkJuice]

TheWTFsauce IKR 🤣🤣🤣

[@RingoLoadagain]

Yep. Convenience. That was the ONLY reason I EVER went to a sbarro's growing up.

[@dwayne601]

They would need to partner with businesses like Walmart and Target to get their traffic. Also, partake in every fair and theme park they can get into. Airports would be a good way, too.

[@diogowerneck5936]

bro u should pitch them that idea

[@josephwolosz2522]

I am spoiled living in the NYC Metro Area. Mom and pop restaurants of your choosing. Sbarro is just corporate pizza. No delivery may be an issue as well.

[@RossCampoli]

So sad to see the decline of Michael Scott’s favorite New York pizza.

[@zooyo]

And I’m gonna get me a New York slice!

[@albear972]

Nobody ever said that Dunder Mifflin's Michael ever had taste.

[@enriqueolaez6930]

😆

[@Robert0Pirie]

I'm honestly surprised to learn that it's actually a New York pizza place... that Michael was actually right in thinking it was one.

[@georgesouza1772]

Hahhah

[@JamesSavik]

Sbarros was so tied to malls, with the decline of so many malls, they went down with them.

[@Joshuralize]

Yeah we watched the video too.

[@tigerburn81]

Yeah, they should find a way to sell their pizza online, with next day delivery, to fat lazy Americans who will pay for it with an nearly maxed-out credit card at 25% interest from the comfort of their couch with the convenience of their $1000 phone.

[@thenewmisterwehrmacht893]

James Savik That’s for US-based branches. Here in the Philippines, the malls is still alive and still cater to everyone, family or not.

[@tigerburn81]

@@thenewmisterwehrmacht893 yeah, when I went to Brazil, all malls (called "shopping" there) were in cities, very busy, and very much for the monied middle class.

[@Kruppt808]

@@tigerburn81 only stupid people max out credit cards. Maybe your projecting. We can order any kind of food online and phones haven't cost 1k for 10 years or more, your comments feel dated.

[@cebel100]

Outside of what you've already said the other big problem that is hitting them is that other smaller places are selling pizza by the slice for cheap in downtown areas (areas they should've taken a while ago but neglected) and they are doing it for cheaper and have far better quality. Well atleast in my experiences that is.

[@liberalclownshow]

Sbarro back in the 80’s was like a decent slice of New York pizza with a crisp crust and very good taste. The pizza slice you get from them now is soft or soggy, it’s thicker than I remember, and the toppings are not great, almost like with canned mushrooms; its unrecognizable from the original product.

[@AozoraUltra2006]

Sbarro, if they haven’t already, should look into selling frozen pizza and branded merchandise

[@sploogecarp814]

*Sbarro becomes a designer clothing trend* 😂

[@TheRealBizWiz]

Kyla Clarp Sbarro cologne

[@TikalKeria]

I'm imagining Supreme clothing but "Sbarro" replacing the name 😂

[@TikalKeria]

White long sleeve tee. "Sbarro" in Supreme text on the front and back. Italian flag checkered sleeves. I'd wear it.

[@WatchTheVideosOnline]

stg cus i use to like they’re stuff..

[@franbisboi]

Sbarro’s pizza as seen from The Office when Micheal Scott famously said, “Time to get myself a New York slice!”

[@patw.6567]

Francisco Ferretiz free ad haha

[@zacharynunn6532]

He actually said “Time to get *me* a New York slice!”

[@witecatj6007]

Funny enough, this chain is nonexistant in the Scranton area. I live in this area and the local places pretty much rule the pizza scene in this area.

[@gabehaas8767]

@@witecatj6007 He was in New York when he said it

[@alberto6305]

Sbarro‘s pizza is like pizza by Alfredo

[@kg322]

There was a sbarro at a restaurant stop on I90 in Western New York, which was always really good. Conversly, when I would go to NYC, the pizza there tasted old, and they never really warmed it up.

[@SquiggleBunny]

I’m in the smaller percentage of people that genuinely enjoyed the food at sbarro 🥺 before covid I LOVED the mini buffet style food they offered, and their taste I know is a premade taste but growing up THAT was our nice restaurant that we ate out to and the taste to me has always been good because of the nostalgia. It’s sad to see them not doing well but 9/10 businesses fail so it’s a risk that every business owner needs to know, even when they’re in their prime.

[@wes2262]

Sbarro was one of those pizzas where you’d eat it if it was the ONLY thing around and it’s was okay but wouldn’t go outta your way to get it

[@chartle1]

yes I've mostly only seen at places like toll road rest stops. I don;t go to the mall anymore.

[@rcairforceone]

That's exactly it... Wander through a mall: "Hey, there's Sbarro..." 'That must be the food court, what else is there?'

[@spencers4121]

I can remember it from the early 90's, I honestly don't remember it being that great. I do remember it smelling great walking by the place though lol.

[@alexosow]

I'm pretty sure everyone thought that way

[@OmegaPhlare]

I feel like their current business model is ripping off teenagers who got dropped off at the mall by their parents and won't be picked up for several hours so they have no other choice. Or people who want to grab something quick to eat because their movie is going to start in 15 minutes. Or people that are with a group of friends eating at the food court and Sbarro was their best option.

[@TheMysteryDriver]

"The food isn't good" "They switched to fresher ingredients, not sure if that was part of the problem. " Lol Low quality ingredients don't taste good even fresh. The problem wasn't the pizza sitting out, because even if you got it fresh it wasn't good. Malls charge a lot for their space too, that's always been against them and keeping a slice cheap, which Sbarro couldn't.

[@valreal6049]

I think the point was that fresher ingredients don't matter when you serve stale pizza.

[@TheMysteryDriver]

Val Real I think it matters a lot. I've been to pizza by the slice when it isn't fresh and they pop it in the oven to heat it and it tastes good. Ingredients are always key to flavor.

[@ADogNamedStay]

Malls are the reason malls don't work anymore.

[@Shenaldrac]

@@TheMysteryDriver Yeah, but I've also had pizza at places that use good ingredients and had the pizza still taste like crap. Ability of the staff to actually cook matters a lot too. If you're ever at Hot Lips in Portland, for example, those guys have no idea how to make a goddamn plain-ass cheese pizza without *covering* it in air bubbles. It's a goddamn travesty. The bubbles mean large swathes of the pizza are empty, just air inside a fragile bread cave, no sauce or cheese. I stopped going there. Doesn't help that they skimp on the sauce. Anyway, what I'm saying is I'll take food made using less than stellar ingredients made by a really skilled cook than food made with the freshest, best-quality ingredients made by some dispassionate college kids working part time who aren't even bothered to learn to properly knead dough.

[@Trayxxxx]

@@Shenaldrac Amen to that

[@MalenkyGoblin]

When I visited Iceland this year, Sbarro was by far the most common fast food chain I saw there.

[@scowlistic]

I made the pizza at a Sbarro's for a few months back in '99. It was excellent, craftsmanship is the key.

[@paulw176]

Greed killed em. I walked past them for years - too expensive.

[@auc9691]

almost the same story with Subway but they re alive

[@vaderladyl]

Yes more expensive than at a small pizza parlor outside the mall.

[@frightenedsoul]

That doesn’t necessarily amount to greed. They certainly didn’t make much as far as profits, but restaurants don’t ever make that much money.

[@mylow5833]

@@frightenedsoul Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. The video mentioned they had a high debt/equity ratio; they were probably trying to compensate

[@SVW1976]

They capitalized on hungry shoppers in malls that will obviously eat anything.

[@SAnn-rf3oz]

It's what happens when a nice "mom and pop shop" goes corporate. Starts a downward spiral of cutting corners and cheap ingredients.

[@robradical7213]

They probably weren't that great as a mom and pop shop either.

[@randysvids4774]

@@tacticalpossum7090 that mostly happens when small businesses get bigger and bigger. Their are a few exceptions like Chipotle where they make a bunch money and the food is actually good. I uses to go to sheetz all the time when I was younger because the sub sandwiches were amazing but then they got bigger, and the food was not as good as it once was

[@Valce]

I worked at a Stevi B's (similar to Cicis) for a couple years and on two occasions, the recipe for our dough changed. We would originally mix water, flour, oil and yeast at timed intervals, then we stopped needing the oil, then the flour came mixed with the yeast. I mean the crust was never that great to begin with, but by now it had become like cardboard and despite complaints in-store and online, nothing changed. People stopped coming and so four locations in four cities here closed.

[@Lasershadow]

Ah yes "going corporate", AKA finance and marketing take over all decision making and grind the company into the ground with min/maxing. It has happened before and will happen again, and again, and again, and again...

[@I_Santos_]

@@Valce so that’s what happened to our local Little Caesar’s crusts. In the last year I noticed a drastic change in their dough. Cardboard is a great description. They used to be a decent cheap pizza, but damn, even for the price it got lousy..

[@JT-el8vm]

Omg I forgot about them until this video popped up!!!!

[@mostlyshitpostly]

I'm commenting before watching, but man, I used to love Sbarro. There was one on my way home from a previous job, and they would let me get beer in a regular fountain cup to-go.

[@artmonkey24]

Like many others, Sbarro is a nostalgic childhood memory for me.

[@aocplusme5676]

What others?

[@NathanRios2000]

Same here

[@starvinmarvinoff6045]

Facts

[@chico7469]

Yes indeed... Evergreen plaza, River oaks mall, Lincoln mall, very nostalgic.

[@prtdiva]

Same! I loved getting sbarros at the mall. I thought it was good. But, it could’ve just been good for my 10 year old taste buds. Who knows? 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@SuprousOxide]

I remember the old saying. Pizza is like sex. When it's good it's REALLY good and when it's bad... It's still pretty good. And that's Sbarro. It's bad pizza, which means... It's ok, I guess.

[@jojivlogs_4255]

Not true. There's some pretty terrible pizza out there

[@seahawks1185]

Deep dish extra cheese and pepperoni is actually good.

[@tavern2468]

jojivlogs_ I had pizza in Philadelphia from a place called Station pizza WORST FUCKING PIZZA I ever had. Couldn’t even finish a slice. Took one bite and I was done. It was $5 for a whole pie. We figured how bad could it be.

[@Sergio-fu7mv]

I’ve had some bad pizza that was REALLY bad. That’s not true. It can be bad.

[@thethrashyone]

@Tohur At least Little Caesar's has actual crust. It's not like those _especially_ terrible pizzas where the texture can be described, without exaggeration, as "cheese on cardboard".

[@afjer]

I always hear the mall argument but the malls around where I live are booming to the point it's often difficult to find parking in the massive lots.

[@bizerkmusic]

I used to love stopping in for spaghetti and a meatball there, and I loved how the noodles were not dry.

[@williammartin4368]

I was a manager for sbarro's and have never been treated better. I loved working for them.

[@eddieschwab864]

I never worked for them myself I work for a a joining restaurant at a mall that had one but it always seemed like it was a mistake that they went from having both Pizza and Pasta to being pizzacentric. I always thought their pasta was worlds better than their Pizza. Just for context I had their pizza maybe three times in my life, none of them I was particularly impressed, but their pasta it's pretty damn good for Mall food...

[@steveomac385]

@@eddieschwab864I always got their pasta. The pizza sucked, but their pasta was more than good enough for the quick mall experience.

[@redstone5149]

@@steveomac385 …have you lost your mind? That pizza still good as af😁

[@SatoriSoul]

@@eddieschwab864 Pasta has pan roasted fresh Garlic by default, I love it to.

[@thomasfontaine3002]

Tough job

[@circuitcity1997]

my sbarro hasnt closed yet but its in a dead mall so its days are numbered ;-;

[@SouthRails]

That’s sad

[@dreadhead5719]

15th

[@1995martin]

F

[@alexosow]

Same except the mall in my city is an unusual case and is doing fairly well

[@artemtankov938]

Party probably it is unique in some way, the pizza the quality in general, and I think it could just as well be the last one to survive.

[@buckfutter1327]

My go to mall food as a kid was always the locally owned Chinese place. The owner's son always hung out at the arcade and we were nice to him. Because of that we started getting discounts :D

[@mplsmark222]

I used to eat at Sbarro, they had radio commercials that offered 2 for 1 pizza slices. I’d request this offer, no coupon or anything and they would act like they were unaware of the offer. I’d usually would get it eventually, but had to negotiate, it was weird.

[@Guildmarm]

the pizza is mediocre but sometimes when you find yourself at a mall it almost feels like tradition to get a slice or two. It may not be great but it's nostalgic at the very least.

[@robknob8437]

A captive audience is all they have going. They should start getting prison contracts.

[@tavern2468]

Sbarro is a default mall meal. A “I’m starving , irritable and everything else in the food court is suspect and I’d rather eat old pizza instead of mall sushi” scenario. It looked better than it tasted. Recently my mom had a craving for it and it was still listed on google but said it was permanently closed. She was sad. I’ll always remember sharing a slice , and baked ziti and a garlic roll with my mom after torturous hours of walking around the mall.

[@MrPatchPlays]

[Everyone liked that.]

[@TheHivesbane]

I still sometimes drive 40 minutes to the old mall just to buy a pepperoni stromboli.

[@tavern2468]

DelfinManny that’s quite a commitment. I wonder if they sold frozen grocery store food they woulda still been successful. Test out the market, Get the loyal /nostalgic customer base without the mall overhead and you get the connivence of not driving to a mall. It’s not any worse than digorno or red barron

[@tavern2468]

Mr. Patch Plays aww 🥰

[@RuiRuichi]

Sbarro is oddly doing ok here in the Philippines. A branch even opened in my small hometown's biggest mall. It's not exacty gourmet since there are plenty of better alternatives at even cheaper prices but it's a go-to when you just want a quick meal when you're tired of the same choices some times.

[@SentinelSays]

In 2005, I visited the US for the first time. Did a little shopping my first day there and got a little hungry, saw a Pizza kiosk. Perfect. It was not perfect. Simultaneously dry and kinda wet, cheese was about as pleasant as being hit with a brick to the face. Acidic and sugary sauce. Dehydrated pepperoni. That ladies and gents, was my first Sbarro slice. They really did pizza dirty!

[@justindearmond1]

i have fond memories of this place at the malls in Wichita Ks. The first real memory i had was when on a field trip in 4th grade way back in 1989/1990 to the Cosmosphere space museum in Hutichson Ks,...its an amazing place that has one of the few OMNIMAX theaters in the world, its an amazing experience...anywho we went to lunch at the local mall there in Hutch and they had a Sbarros right next to the Aladdins Castle arcade...all us 4th grade boys were eating pizza and playing video games. They had this one holographic fighting game and i cant remember what it was called and was suprised games like those never caught on or advanced in tech. The pizza at Sbarros was pretty good and the slices were huge!

[@ryanbarker5217]

for a pizza that smelled so good and looked gorgeous, it sure did taste like a tombstone. an actual tombstone, not the pizza brand.

[@alf8916]

Lmao

[@brian4019]

Should have cooked the pizzas or slices fresh, but I suppose it would have been too slow for food court service.

[@Sm-ig4rn]

actually it tastes delicious.

[@kelseyaguirre7805]

Best calzones

[@juicyfruit133]

ryan barker lol

[@Chuwie]

"Sbarro is my favorite New York Pizza place" - Micheal Scott

[@squadabingo7290]

Who is Michael Scott?

[@Chasstful]

@@squadabingo7290 hahaha

[@Chasstful]

Even with that high profile advertisement, its going broke. F*ck Sbarro, it was always the most expensive choice at the food court, and it was never worth it.

[@squadabingo7290]

Real talk. I was being serious @Charles black

[@Chasstful]

@@squadabingo7290 Star of The Office. Hit TV show

[@Redfoot138]

Last week I had Sbarro's for the first time in probably 20 years. I got it more for the irony as it was always mainly just the only pizza option if you worked at or went to the mall. I was kind of shocked because it actually tasted... not too bad. That said, I doubt I will ever eat it again.

[@purplecrayon7281]

Living in NYC, I will never understand why people would buy pizza from Sbarro, when any street corner pizzeria serves better tasting pizza than Sbarro and at a cheaper price.

[@DPSFSU]

We used to have a Sbarro in our local mall. They were there for so many years. Then closed down and became an Arby's. Years went by and the place changed many times. Recently that same spot in the mall became... a Sbarro! Full circle.

[@jg_in_hd]

The one in our local mall closed and became a Chinese restaurant that also closed

[@anti-ethniccleansing465]

@Cold World Who buys clothes online though? Pass on that!

[@jerrywoods4066]

@Cold World strange but true

[@heavenshound6775]

@Christine not exactly, higher end malls still rake in tons of cash, you are exaggerating it.

[@dl30wpb]

Sbarro is inevitable lol

[@ZMCarsandMore]

As an avid pizza maker, freshness is important for pizza. The longer the pizza is out of the oven, the less moisture the pizza (dough) retains. Then when you add a lamp to keep it warm, only accelerates the process. This affects the quality heavily. This is why Dominos and other large pizza chains are very strict on making sure the pizza reaches the customer as soon as possible.

[@colviolet4066]

For instance, at marcos pizza, we will make extra large pizzas and cut them into 6 slices to sell by the slice, we make that pizza around 11am or so give or take a half hour... and around 1pm, 2pm, or possibly 3pm.. we take it away cause it will resemble a dryed out cracker if we left it till 5pm If I remember correctly we sell slices for either 3 or 4 hours per day.

[@dogchow99]

Dominos tastes like hospital 🤢

[@SuperFlamethrower]

My local pizza place will make a pizza when I order it and it have it ready when I arrive. It's not rocket science, it's basic customer service. Your local pizza place will do this for you too!

[@toruinouelover]

@@dogchow99 omg I thought I was the only one who didn’t like dominos. I feel like the pizzas taste has changed overtime

[@m74796]

Domino's could get there in 5 seconds it still tastes like s***. I can't believe there expanding they should be declining

[@shannonhill3356]

Idk man I absolutely loved Sbarro. The fact that it was reheated to crispy af WAS what made it so good to me. Maybe it’s a thing for people who like or even prefer pizza reheated…like me 🤷🏻‍♂️ I miss em here in Florida.

[@mini_worx]

A friend of mine used to be the manager of the Parmatown Mall Sbarro and every time we had a get together on the weekends he'll pull up with 3-4 massive pizzas with massive amounts of toppings. Can't beat free pizza.

[@Blakelikesfood]

"What happened?" Lunch costing $18 happened.

[@bratzboyz]

yep

[@locke103]

*laughs in new york* sorry, i couldnt resist. but yeah, i absolutely hate trying to buy lunch within most places around here.

[@sujimtangerines]

My BF at the time worked there and the only way we could afford to eat there was at the end of the night when they let the closers take home whatever was left.

[@tanabza9094]

OMG lmao so true. Whenever I would be in the city, this place never failed. Getting their lemon spaghetti

[@Chadius]

@@locke103 You could get better NY Pizza for around $7 from local chains in NYC. Why would you waste time and money at Sbarro's?

[@briansundayatc]

“I’m gonna get me a New York slice!” -Michael Scott

[@dreadhead5719]

25th

[@Agtsmirnoff]

“At my favorite New York pizza joint”

[@undisclosedevr644]

Sbarro always reminds me of Michael Scott after that episode!

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

A perfectly executed sight-joke. Scott makes that statement as the the camera pans right to capture him jogging over to a Sbarro's storefront. Hilarious.

[@superquinntendo8916]

There it is.

[@chrisubias7135]

They were a staple at US airports. I travel A LOT and usually would get 2 pepperoni slices. I really liked their pizza

[@anthrojim]

I don't know anyone sitting at home that has said, "Hey, let's go to Sbarro and get some pizza". They'll always be 'last resort' food option and will only survive in airports and malls. If they already haven't done so, they should start opening restaurants on college campuses too.

[@iPrimitive]

The other year I didn't have a car yet and so I straight up walked 15 minutes to the bus stop that goes to the mall and rode around 45 - 60 minutes. (If I remember the time frame correctly.) Just for their pizza🤣. And every single time I'm there at the mall I HAVE to get it.

[@comicog3]

Hot take: when you get a taste fresh Sbarro slice they're actually pretty good. They're terrible when they're not fresh though

[@cancel1913]

I was going to say exactly that. If you get the pepperoni pizza (most popular) fresh off the oven then it's actually good. The ones that are not so popular and sit around are awful.

[@douglasdeguzman7729]

yes! when the crust still got a crunch to it!

[@Autotomize]

“Actually pretty good” doesn’t come close to how incredible fresh slices from other pizza chains are

[@Michelle-ym8yw]

@@cancel1913 Right, they should cut their menu way down and only sell pepperoni and cheese pizza. Not only do they save money be eliminating waste, the pizza will be fresher. NYC is full of pizza by the slice places that are delicious - the fact that it's premade isn't Sbarro's problem. Secondly, they should pop slices into the oven for a few mins if it isn't just out of the oven (if they don't already). This is what NYC slice places do.

[@jenm9099]

Living in Atlanta after being raised in NYC and New Haven, CT, IMO, Sbarro's fresh pizza is pretty good for Atlanta. Although, I think frozen pizza is better than most pizza here. It sucks.

[@puertoricanguy999]

Anyone who quotes ReviewBrah/TheReportOfTheWeek, even for great meme purposes, is okay in my book. Thank you, Company Man.

[@dreadhead5719]

74th

[@jase7722]

If only he'd put his name or channel name somewhere

[@Silvergun_Raven]

Jason He put his name on the bottom left of the video when the clip was shown.

[@jase7722]

@@Silvergun_Raven oof didnt see, noice!

[@julesdotmp4]

i gasped when my boy showed up, ngl

[@joseyeastwood]

Overpriced pizza and malls virtually being obsolete because that’s the only place i have ever seen them in.

[@stingray11214]

I remember Sbarro as an Italian Salumeria on 65th and 17th Avenue in Brooklyn. When they forgot what made them is when they lost it. When Mama Sbarro died, Sbarro was finished.

[@SheldonAdama17]

The only reason I know Sbarro is because Michael Scott always goes there when he’s in NYC for his “New York slice”

[@gooblegobble78]

🤣🤣

[@derealized797]

I was actually going to comment on this. Every time I see Sbarro that's what comes to mind. His favorite NY pizza place.

[@fieldrook1613]

Same, I didn’t even understand the joke at first

[@bgreene110]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@prtdiva]

Lmaooooo 😂

[@Sirkillsalot22X]

Why is it going down the shitter? Reviewbrah nailed it. "it wasn't extremely gross... it was acceptable..." Too many good pizza places out there to tolerate overpaying for just an "acceptable" slice.

[@FayBelleRose233]

Yeah I am with you on that I am just not going to spend $5 for one slice of okay pizza, and there are just so many better pizza places in my town. If anything I'd rather put some of my money into a loical place.

[@testing448]

Last time I had sbarro was in 2016. I always get the two xl pepperoni pizza for 18.99 which was a freaking steal. I live in the Phoenix valley and we only have 3 locations and they are still open today inside the malls. I can’t fathom spending almost 5 bucks for a slice now. I may stop by just try it again. I like their pizzas.

[@joelcruz9415]

I never thought they were great but they were decent in a pinch. Much better than other fast food pizza spots. Although, I recently had Sbarro at a rest area in PA and it seems that they changed their style of pizza. It now looks and tastes like a more traditional NY style pizza. I thought it was much better.

[@PWiz30]

I loved Sbarro pizza when I was a kid. Kids aren't very picky about the quality of their pizza.

[@taylorfrench6722]

That's why frozen pizza is so successful among kids and so many adults. It's for people who want convenience just like Sbarro and I say this as someone who eats them every once in a while.

[@PWiz30]

@@taylorfrench6722 Yeah, pizza is a food where even if you've had some of the best examples of it, you can still appreciate a basic, convenient version in the right situation.

[@LifePlayDream]

As a kid I always thought this was shit pizza, I never understood the lust for this garbage.

[@jakekrugman4466]

Yeah I would eat uncooked hot dogs

[@skdjirrrdjdm3926]

@@LifePlayDream age 12-13 is when I started figuring out it was shit.

[@jpaxonreyes]

"It wasn't extremely gross." -Reviewbrah

[@billreed3785]

TheReportOfTheWeek kid, if you didnt know

[@jpaxonreyes]

@@billreed3785 - oh, I know. I'm one of his Patreon patrons.

[@jasonz7788]

Awesome thanks 👍

[@JamesRichardsPlays]

The last time I had Sbarro was in 2004. It was in the mall in Great Falls, Montana. It tasted like high school cafeteria pizza. The last time I had cafeteria pizza was in 1996, my first week of being a freshman in high school. There were a number of small eateries that did what Sbarro did, and somehow did better. There was a small place called Latte Pizza, the owner's daughter came over from Guam and opened a shop near San Diego CA. Same large slices, better quality and still operating as of 2018ish.