Restaurant’s Closure Dampens School’s Fundraiser

azcentral.com:

Nothing But Noodles at Alma School and Germann roads has closed, upsetting parents at a nearby elementary school that had just entered into a fund-raising agreement with the restaurant.

The five-year lease was up, and franchisee Matt Hale was facing an increase in rent with declining business, said Chad Everts, co-owner of Noodles Development, the Scottsdale-based franchisor.

“With sales declining the last couple years due to new restaurants opening all over that area, the economy, gas prices, and people not eating out as much, the owner chose not to renew the lease,” Everts said.

Hale did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Among those disappointed at the closing of the fast-casual pasta restaurant was Stephanie Colby, who had helped develop a fund-raising card for Hancock Elementary School.

The card, which sells for $10, offers discounts at various venues such as restaurants, an ice cream store and a bowling alley. One of the sponsoring businesses was Nothing but Noodles.

“Unfortunately, when I went in to talk to the owner of the store, I addressed my concern that I had heard about him having troubles,” Colby said. “He said, ‘We’re negotiating our lease.’ ”

Colby went ahead and included the restaurant as a card sponsor.

“The day we got our card (from the printer), I went to pass them out this last week, and had a person come to me and say, ‘Nothing But Noodles closed today,’ ” she said.

Instead of 17 establishments on the card, now only 16 are valid.