Noodles & Co. Fires Employees Who Refused Service to Alexandria Police Officer

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Noodles & Co. has fired the two employees involved in an incident with a police officer who was denied service Monday night in Alexandria, the company said in a statement released Thursday.

The refusal of service, which took place Monday night at the Noodles & Co. at Alexandria Commons shopping center at 3105 Duke St., comes at a time of high tension between police officers and local communities across the country.

A police officer in uniform left the Duke Street location Monday after a cook told the cashier that she would not serve her, according to a spokeswoman for the Alexandria Police Department.

As the officer was waiting to place her order, she said a female cook walked to the cashier and "said something along the lines of 'I'm not serving that one,' " Alexandria Police Department spokeswoman Crystal Nosal said. She also said the cook and cashier laughed and said something she couldn’t hear, according to the spokeswoman.

The officer at that point chose to leave the restaurant and reported the incident to her boss at the police department, Nosal said.

After investigating the incident, a Noodles spokeswoman said Thursday the two involved in the incident were terminated by the company:

“Discrimination of any kind is never tolerated at Noodles & Company. After completing a thorough investigation into the allegations brought to us by a police officer who visited our Alexandria, VA location, we have concluded the two team members in question acted inappropriately and we immediately terminated their employment. The views and actions of these individuals are in no way reflective of the Company or team at our Alexandria location.

"We want to thank the entire Alexandria Police Department for their assistance in this investigation. We have spoken with the officer involved and apologized for the inexcusable actions of these individuals.

"Further, we want to extend our apologies to the entire Alexandria Police Department for the comments made by our team member. We have the utmost respect for law enforcement officials and value the relationship we have built with the local Alexandria Police Department over the years.”

The incident Monday night "disappointed" the officer involved as well as Police Chief Earl Cook, Nosal said. "We have a good relationship with the business community in Alexandria," she said.

Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg issued a statement about the incident Thursday:

"I appreciate Noodles & Company’s swift and thorough response to and full-throated apology for this unfortunate situation. There should never be any discrimination in America. Alexandria does not tolerate discrimination in any form, and it is regrettable that the actions of two individuals distracted from the overwhelming support the Alexandria Police Department and all law enforcement professionals receive from our community every day. After extensive dialogue with the company’s regional and national leadership, we are satisfied that this situation was an anomaly and should not reflect on the company nor its other hard-working employees. We cherish our police officers and all public safety personnel, and we are grateful to them for their service and courage."

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"Here in Alexandria, we cherish our police officers and all public safety personnel," Mayor Allison Silberberg said in a statement. "They are outstanding, and we appreciate the incredible support these heroes receive from residents and businesses every day."

The police chief and representatives of the police union met with the restaurant manager Tuesday, Nosal said. The eatery now plans to display a sign stating that Noodles & Co. supports "blue lives." Cook met with an area manager for the company, who said the company planned to investigate the incident, Nosal said.

A deputy chief of police plans to meet with members of the entire Noodles & Co. staff to talk with them about their relationships with police in the community, Nosal said.

Photo of sign courtesy of Noodles & Co.