Sbarro, the Italian restaurant chain that's a fixture in mall food courts, is closing 155 of its locations in North America. The move is part of a broader plan to boost financial performance under a new management team, the company said Wednesday. The closings affect underperforming company-owned stores and not franchise locations, Sbarro said.

The chain, based in Melville, N.Y., is still trying to rebound after emerging from bankruptcy in 2011. Sbarro's restaurants are concentrated in malls, where slowing traffic and muted consumer spending has taken a toll on food courts. Even as it scales back operations in its home country, the company added South American locations last year.

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Source: http://www.latimes.com/