Talk:Noodles & Company/GA1

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GA Review[edit]

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Reviewer: TonyTheTiger (talk · contribs) 17:47, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I use to like this restaurant when it was down the street, so I will review this article.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 17:47, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The closest one for me is about 15 minutes away, but my wife and I make the drive. I like all the spicy dishes in in the center column of the menu, and the traditional speghetti and meatballs. CorporateM (Talk) 18:15, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I usually got variations on pad thai because it was nearly the cheapest.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 19:35, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
WP:LEAD
 Done
Origins
Do you mean the full address? (4737 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803) CorporateM (Talk) 18:21, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
What about the Cherry Creek one?--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 18:37, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Oops, I looked up Denver locations on their website and assumed that was it. Here's a map of Cherry Creek and I'm guessing this now defunct location at 2360 E 3rd Ave Denver, CO 80206 is it. However, the sources I used in the article and double-checked don't specify the full address. I will double-check when the book arrives in 5-7 days to see if it has it. I don't think it should be added unless we have a reliable source for it though. CorporateM (Talk) 02:05, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Not done Unfortunately there just aren't any sources that identify the full address of the first location CorporateM (Talk) 21:48, 14 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Early history
 Done Holy crap - that's where the menu rework came from!! CorporateM (Talk) 16:50, 15 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Done The source says the negative review was in the Wisconsin State Journal in April 1996, was followed by 2 months of lackluster sales, then the team made the trip, so presumably in June or July. I'll put mid-1996. CorporateM (Talk) 18:25, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Not done I think Chicago is known for noodle shops, but the book just says "Kennedy and his team drove from Madison to Chicago to tour successful noodle shops, compare them to their own restaurants and decide whether to quite or revise their business model." Inc. says "To kick off the "Redefine Noodles & Co." meeting, Kennedy and his team -- executive chef Ross Kamens, then board member (and now executive vice-president) Tom Weigand, and a handful of specialists in architecture, management, and construction -- traveled to Chicago, where they visited some of the city's many noodle shops. After tasting several dishes and observing the sizzling sautÉ process at half a dozen restaurants, the team drove three hours to the struggling Madison store." I did a few searches in Google books, Google News and my library's database for other sources, but came up empty handed. CorporateM (Talk) 21:56, 14 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I'm re-checking the sources - I'm not actually sure where this came from. I thought I remembered reading it, but I don't see anything about actually changing menu items in the sources. I will do some more poking around first to see if I can find it in another source. CorporateM (Talk) 22:06, 14 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Not done Inc. Magazine says "Executive chef Kamens reexamined the menu." and "Kennedy asked the team to examine each element of the business, from restaurant layout to menu to pricing" but it doesn't specify specific items that were added/removed. CorporateM (Talk) 16:56, 15 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
The book says "warmed up the restaurants' color schemes" and Inc. says "And the architect refashioned the restaurants with warmer colors." CorporateM (Talk) 21:58, 14 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Done
 Done There were not, but I added a wikilink to the article on sauteing 18:37, 5 December 2013 (UTC)
Did I miss the link for steam tables.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 00:54, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
There's no article on Steam tables, unless there is another word for it? It may have another name I should be looking for. CorporateM (Talk) 01:57, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Done There is no article, but I re-worked it so it was more self-explanatory. The source only says "to increase freshness" so this is a bit of OR technically speaking, but within the realm of common sense I think. CorporateM (Talk) 15:45, 15 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Are you saying there is no source for al dente?--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 22:14, 15 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I think so, but let me double check. CorporateM (Talk) 22:38, 15 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Confirmed. It is not in the book, the Inc. profile that covers the turnaround extensively, or the local profile "PASTA ENTREPRENEUR USES HIS NOODLE". I also checked HighBeam, Google Books and the library database for articles that mention al dente with Noodles & Company, as well as the major profiles used in the article, like "Going Bowling".
This prompted me to check the sourcing in other parts of the article, because I'm not sure where it came from. I do notice that the negative review in the Wisconson State Journal that almost caused them to go out of business "A GREAT IDEA, BUT FOOD COMES UP A BIT LIMP", says "Noodles & Company reheats their noodles by dipping them in hot water for a few moments...All of the noodles were a touch overdone for our tastes." Given the move to sauteeing, it seems likely the al dente thing is true (but unsourced). CorporateM (Talk) 23:00, 15 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Growth
  • From 1996–2000, Noodles & Company's revenues grew from $330,000 to $13 million. Tell me the number of stores that accounted for this growth. E.g., from 1 store to 30.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 18:08, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Not done I checked the sources in the Growth section again, but none of them have numbers for locations during this time period. CorporateM (Talk) 16:00, 15 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • "Aaron Kennedy, stepped down from his position as CEO that same year and was replaced by Kevin Reddy" was this a business decision. I.e., did Reddy have some expertise that Kennedy did not?--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 18:08, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Not doneThe source just says "stepped down this month as chief executive —president Kevin Reddy has assumed that role"
 Not done Argh, I no longer have access to the source, which was a broadcast television spot I could see through a trial service I was using, but I'm not sure I could describe the reason for its growth without being promotional anyway - the food is great, filling, affordable and healthy. It's just a great, well-loved restaurant. CorporateM (Talk) 18:46, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
    • This is a point where being a COI editor is touchy. I believe the proper thing to say about this is that this is a restaurant that people turned to when they had to tighten their belts while struggling to balance their budgets. The alternative point to make is show similar restaurants where this same trend occurred, but I think an objective attempt to troll through data would lead you to my original point.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 01:07, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
      • IMO, the best editors on WP present as many sides as possible to the readers. I write a lot about Michigan athletics, but I write the articles so that both Michigan's most diehard fans and Michigan's staunchest rivals feel that the articles are complete. I am a tell all writer on WP even if I am a fan. I don't sweep things under the rug. As a COI editor, this point is not something that you should want to make, but for the sake of WP readers to get the full picture give a lot of thought to the presentation of this issue.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 01:12, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
          • Why don't we just stick to what is in the sources :-p I'll take a look at some of the articles that talk about growth in particular and see if the have some context we can add. CorporateM (Talk) 02:19, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
            •  Not done I checked all the sources in the Growth section and there just wasn't any source material to provide content around why they grew so quickly. Cite #3 talks a lot about awards and positive reception, while another talks about how the Fast-Casual market was growing, but neither would directly support making a connection that either factor was the reason it was growing. CorporateM (Talk) 02:47, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Recent history
 Done
 Done
Menu and restaurants
 Done
According to cite #3: "Since then the company has followed a pattern of opening in urban, affluent neighborhoods and cosmopolitan college towns" CorporateM (Talk) 02:25, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
“Customers tend to be well educated and fairly cosmopolitan, according to Kennedy”
All of this needs to be in the text.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 04:58, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Done
What about the part that says well educated and fairly cosmopolitan?--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 14:45, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
It's somewhat redundant and attributed to a company spokesperson, but I don't mind putting it in if you think it should be. CorporateM (Talk) 14:55, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Add it with proper attribution.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 14:59, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Done
Do you mean to explain what a franchise is? Like that some of them are owned by Noodles & Company, while others have have franchise owners that pay fees to use their name and recipes? CorporateM (Talk) 02:13, 6 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Franchise vs. non-franchise store may mean a different thing in each business. Describe what the differences for this business as well as you can based on sources.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 06:07, 7 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
How about this: A franchise location is operated by an independent franchisee that is trained in Noodles & Company's operations and uses the same menus, pricing and branding. source CorporateM (Talk) 15:29, 9 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
That explains one half.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 21:20, 9 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
You mean something like "while corporate stores are owned and operated by Noodles & Company"? It seems pretty obvious, but I don't mind putting it in. CorporateM (Talk) 22:07, 14 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Done I think. I added this, though it seems a bit awkward, because I think most people know what a franchise is (and if they don't they can click on the wikilink), but I trust your judgement. CorporateM (Talk) 15:49, 15 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Images


Thanks for taking on the review! A lot of these questions about the details of the changes in decor, cooking, and menu I thought I remembered reading somewhere, but my library's article database is giving me errors right now and many of them are sourced to the book "Upside to Turbulence". Google Books does not provide the book's text and I do not have a hard-copy, so I'm not sure how I accessed this source the first time around (I ordered a copy just now). I'll have to circle back after I get the book in the mail and my library's database is working again to see if I can find the info. CorporateM (Talk) 19:03, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I assume I should complete the review and that you anticipate being able to respond within a few weeks. Is this the case?--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 19:53, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Yup, that would be fine. CorporateM (Talk) 19:57, 5 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • I am putting this article on Hold. I feel confident that I will be able to work with the COI editor to get this article up to the WP:WIAGA standard that all articles must meet. I am willing to be patient on the sources that are in transit.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 06:10, 7 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I promise I haven't forgotten about this article. I'm still waiting for the book to come in. Should be here soon I would think. CorporateM (Talk) 14:03, 13 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Fine. No rush.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 15:44, 13 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I got the book! I will be checking it to see if it contains any of the information you've asked for today/tomorrow. CorporateM (Talk) 21:39, 14 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]


  • At this point I only have a couple remaining issues:
  1. Dollar amounts over 10 years old should be converted into current dollars (US${{formatnum:{{Inflation}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}).--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 00:44, 16 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Done Except in the Lead. Should it be in the Lead as well? Even though the inflation numbers are also in the body? CorporateM (Talk) 01:20, 16 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  1. "uses the same menus" is currently ungrammatical. same menus as what. You should probably describe the Corporate stores first and then say the Franchises use the same menus as the corporate stores.--TonyTheTiger (T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 00:44, 16 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
 Done How's that? CorporateM (Talk) 01:22, 16 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
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