Bad news for Noodles & Company fans! The famous restaurant chain has announced that it will be closing several of its locations this year. After reviewing recent trends, the company’s management is reassessing its projections for restaurant-level contribution margins for 2025, and as a result, some changes are coming. Here’s what you need to know about closures.
Why is Noodles & Company closing restaurants?
The closures appear to be part of a strategy revealed in August 2024, focused on eliminating underperforming locations. At the time, those locations were generating contribution losses of nearly $2 million.
However, things seem to be improving for the company. In its Q1 2025 earnings report, the company announced that same-store sales had increased by 4.4%. It also plans to add two new company-owned restaurants this year.
ALSO READ Love’s Travel Stops will be offering fuel discounts! Here’s how to take advantage of the offer
How many restaurants will Noodles & Company close?
According to the fast-casual restaurant chain, it may close up to 21 of its locations throughout the year.
Which restaurants will Noodles & Company close?
So far, the Broomfield, Colorado-based company has not disclosed the specific locations that will be closing.
How many Noodles & Company restaurants are there?
Currently, the chain operates 380 company-owned locations and 89 franchises across 31 U.S. states.
History of Noodles & Company
Founded in 1995, the company stands out as the only restaurant in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to noodles, offering a menu that balances the warmth of classic dishes with contemporary and innovative twists. Its wide variety of options ensures there’s something for every palate, making each visit both enjoyable and accessible.
With over 450 locations nationwide and thousands of dedicated employees, the brand has earned a special place among consumers. It was recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Favorite Restaurants, and its efforts to support its team have also been widely acknowledged in the industry. Forbes named Noodles one of the Best Employers for Diversity in 2021 and 2022, as well as one of the Best Employers for Women in 2021.
Additionally, the Denver Business Journal recognized the company as one of the Best Places to Work, thanks to its organizational culture based on “Uncommon Goodness” and its core value of “Loving Life”—a philosophy that begins with employee well-being and extends to the communities it serves.
ALSO READ Walmart to raise prices due to tariffs: what products will be affected?
Noodles has also received certification for its female leadership and prides itself on empowering its female employees. It maintains an active partnership with the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance to enhance cultural intelligence among its teams.
Noodles & Company Menu
The chain offers a menu centered on noodles. It has also introduced new dishes that have been well received by customers. Among the items you can find are:
- Mac & Cheese
- Pad Thai
- Japanese Noodles
- Buffalo Chicken Ranch Mac & Cheese
- BBQ Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese
- Green Goddess Cobb Salad
- Cajun-Style Shrimp Fettuccine
What is the Noodles Rewards program?
It’s the company’s loyalty program that lets customers earn points, track their progress, order online, and save their favorite orders and locations. Earn points to redeem for offers and rewards of your choice. Depending on your tier, you’ll earn a certain number of points for every $1 spent. You’ll also have access to special offers and exclusive member promotions throughout the year.
How can I redeem Noodles rewards?
You can apply rewards and offers to your order by viewing your cart. To ensure the reward is applied correctly, make sure you have an eligible item in your cart. If you’re ordering in-store, you can open the reward in your Rewards account so a Noodles Ambassador can scan it, or you can provide your phone number at the register.
The Noodles Ambassador will only be able to see purchased rewards and not your points, so make sure to purchase any reward you want to use before placing your order.
