Noodles and Company is coming to the Stillwater area, bringing eagerly awaited international pastas that the community has been eagerly looking forward to. The new location will be in a strip mall in Oak Park Heights next to Jimmy John’s and Chipotle.  Noodles and Company is a fast food restaurant serving international and American noodle meals, along with sandwiches, soups and salads.

Because of their affordable meals, Noodles and Company has grown in popularity among the student population.

“I adore Noodles and Company,” said senior Hannah Sutcliffe. “I love that I can go and get practically anything from anywhere in the world.”

The new location in Oak Park Heights will be especially convenient for high school students.  In the past Stillwater students would  have to drive to Maplewood to get to the closest Noodles and Company.

“I think having a Noodles and Company in Stillwater will be great for students,” said Sutcliffe. “It’s a new place to go that’s more unique than McDonalds or Subway.”

The general reaction from students is positive; and many students seem to be very excited for the new restaurant.

“When I heard of Noodles and Company coming to Stillwater, I cried for ten minutes,” said Sutcliffe. “Not really though, more like five.”

Those who have only recently heard of its existence are as excited as long time customers, such as junior Molly Mapstone who said she heard of Noodles and Company “at swim practice a few weeks ago.”

Noodles and Company has become the top growing chain business, growing 18.2 percent in financial growth in the past year.  Usual consumers of Jimmy John’s and Chipotle may be attracted to the new location of Noodles and Company, thus posing a threat to the surrounding restaurants.

“I think businesses will be excited about all the traffic they witness,” explains Sutcliffe. “Until they realize that people are far more passionate about noodles than burritos.”

However, there is always another opinion. There are people who do not enjoy Noodles and Company and are not looking forward to the new location opening up.

“Noodles and Company is mediocre – nothing more,” said senior Jeremy Dean. “The main dishes are just simple pastas anybody could make at home.”

Although some people who do not care for Noodles and Company, the restaurant’s success in Stillwater will be evident through a widespread positive reaction.  This new location will hopefully open before the end of the year, and will attract many new customers to Noodles and Company.