Congratulations! Noodles & Co. and Chick-fil-A
Two franchise-food favorites are adding locations in Columbia, roughly flagging either side of Broadway: CoMo’s second Noodles and Company opened on Conley Road, near Highway 63, over the weekend, and the city’s first (long-awaited) Chick-fil-A location opens on Wednesday at 305 N. Stadium Boulevard.
The Conley Street location will be the first Noodles & Company added to Columbia by Hamra Enterprises. The Springfield-based franchiser bought seven Missouri Noodles locations in 2014, including the one on 9th Street. Hamra also owns three Wendy’s restaurants in Columbia, and the company has personal reasons to invest here: founder Sam Hamra earned his undergraduate and law degrees at MU in the ’50s, and his son — and current CEO — Mike Hamra went to MU’s law school in the early ’90s.
The younger Hamra lived near the Broadway–63 interchange while attending MU; even then, he saw the area with the eyes of an opportunist. In an email, Hamra wrote: “I knew it was a great area and always wanted to develop a restaurant off of Broadway and 63 because of my familiarity with the large number of people and families who shop or visit restaurants in that area. I believe strongly that a Noodles & Company restaurant in that area of town will be well-received by the people that live there.”
Hamra Enterprises took over the 9th street Noodles in uncertain times. Plans to demolish the building for housing development appear stagnant. Now, Hamra is hinting at more growth in the city.
“We’ve had great success with our Noodles & Company (sic) restaurant on 9th street and our three Wendy’s restaurants in Columbia. Both Wendy’s and Noodles & Company are strong brands and well supported by the Columbia community, so it’s clear there is opportunity for adding some restaurants in the Columbia market.”
Chick-fil-A anticipates an excited crowd for their opening on Wednesday. The “First 100” event (the first 100 adult customers get 52 free meals) is a signature for Chick-fil-A franchise openings. A press release from the company said the event “transforms the restaurant parking lot into a 24-hour community friendly party as the crowd awaits the opening.” The restaurant expects “dozens” of customers to camp out on Tuesday night in anticipation of Wednesday’s opening.
Jeremy Stouder will operate the franchise. He’s been working with Chick-fil-A’s corporate grand opening team, which helps launch franchisees around the company, but he’ll now focus on operating a restaurant himself. Chick-fil-A plans to open 88 new locations in 2015.
Both Chick-fil-A and Noodles and Company incorporated community service into their grand openings: Hamra Enterprises hosted a Community Benefit Day on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of Columbia, and Stouder will host a children’s book drive, also benefitting the Boys and Girls Club.
Photos provided by Wimberly Brown and Serena Mounts.