Sbarro was founded by Gennaro and Carmela Sbarro. The couple and their three sons, Joseph, Mario and Anthony, immigrated to America from Naples, Italy in 1956 with help from the Padovani family, who took them in. They gave Gennaro employment in their deli. The same year, the Sbarro family opened their first Salumeria (an Italian grocery store) in Brooklyn, New York, which became popular for its fresh food and genuine Italian fare. Their Sbarro Italian Delicatessen in Brooklyn, was well received by the local community and was the first of a successful chain.
The success of the Sbarro Salumeria led to the opening of additional locations throughout the New York City area. In 1967, Sbarro opened its first mall-based restaurant in Brooklyn's Kings Plaza Shopping Center, marking the beginning of the modern Sbarro concept: Italian food in an open kitchen that allowed for fast self-service. Over the last 50 years, the Kings Plaza business model has expanded throughout the U.S. and over 45 countries around the world. In early 2007, Sbarro was acquired by Mid Ocean Partners, a private equity firm with offices in New York and London. In 2008, Sbarro is...