This Fast-Casual Chain Is Closing Up To 21 Locations: How IL Restaurants Could Be Affected

ILLINOIS — Noodles & Company plans to close up to 21 restaurants this year in a move that could impact its nearly 50 Illinois locations.

The fast-casual chain said it intends to shutter 13-17 company-owned restaurants and four franchise locations. It also plans to open two new company-owned restaurants in 2025, according to a news release Noodles & Company published earlier this month.

The Colorado-based chain was founded in 1995 and has over 450 locations.

A spokesperson for Noodles & Company told USA Today in a prepared statement Thursday that decisions about which restaurants will close are “still in progress.”

In the news release, CEO Drew Madsen noted “a challenging macroeconomic environment” and plans for “a significant reduction in capital spending and continued emphasis on smart cost savings.”

Noodles & Company’s first-quarter revenue was up 2 percent year-over-year but its net loss also increased from $6.1 million in the first quarter of 2024 to $9.1 million for the same quarter in 2025, according to the news release.

In March, the company launched several new menu items, including three additional flavors of macaroni and cheese, Cajun shrimp fettuccine and green goddess Cobb salad.

The chain is one of several to close locations in recent years. Others include Red Lobster, TGI Fridays and Denny’s.

In Illinois, Noodles & Company has 49 restaurants, mainly — but not exclusively — in the Chicago area. For a full list, visit locations.noodles.com/il.