By Heather Graves
Correspondent
HOWARD – The wait is finally over, the Noodles & Company on Lineville Road has officially opened it’s doors.
The Howard-Suamico location is the state’s 50th Noodles location.
“Our restaurants do really well in Green Bay, and we felt that this was just the next step for us in the area,” said Steve Sezwick, regional marketing manager for Noodles & Company.
Sezwick said the response from the community has been overwhelming.
“Everyone (at our training events) has been, ‘we are so happy you are here,’” he said.
Nestled on the end of a strip mall next to Modern Eyes, it’s smaller than the other two area stores, East Mason Street in Green Bay and Oneida Street in Ashwaubenon, with in-store seating for about three dozen.
There will also be the option of outdoor seating in front of the store when the weather warms up.
However, it has a couple of things neither of those other locations have.
It’s one of just four locations in the country (the other three are in Colorado) that have a new kitchen layout specifically designed to cut prep time in half and provide a better overall product.
“We are calling it the kitchen of the future,” Sezwick. “It’s better food quality. Food comes out way hotter and faster. Moving forward, all of our new locations will have this kitchen.”
And that’s not all that makes the new location unique.
Just walking into the building, Sezwick said folks will notice the location’s new look.
“From a visual appearance, this location has a new feel to it,” he said.
The new store also looks to help its customers with their busy lives – offering guests two options for online order pick up.
The first is two parking spots right in front of the store, for folks to run in and pick up their online orders at the counter.
The second option is the can’t-miss quick pick-up window – which Sezwick said is different than a drive thru – “no orders or payment is taken.”
“The pick up window gives guests another option to pick up their online orders where they don’t even need to get out of their car,” he said. “It’s about convenience.”
Sezwick said connecting with the community is a big part of what Noodles & Company does.
The location will do its best to connect with the Howard-Suamico community with their fundraiser nights.
Organizations, such as non-profits, PTOs or church groups, will receive 25 percent of qualifying sales on that particular night.
Sezwick said fundraiser nights will be held from 4-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Interested organizations can sign up online at noodles.com through the giving back link.
“We do them as often as possible, as long as the location can handle it,” he said. “Our mission statement is to nurture and inspire every team member, guest and community we serve.”
To kick off the giving, the store partnered with the Suamico Fire Department for a training evening Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Donations were taken at the door for the department, and guests received a free meal.
The new restaurant brought in jobs to the area residents – including a store manager, six trainers and about 30 employees.