Washington Bridge among factors leading to local business closure

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — It’s a sad reality for a local business in Providence.

Noodles 102 in Fox Point is closing its doors with its last official day this Saturday, June 8.

“After 17 years we are sadly shutting down our doors due to a number of factors,” Laura Kuscu, an employee at Noodles 102, said. “Due to economic conditions and the recent issues with the Washington Bridge in Providence.”

This was the American dream for co-owner Mustafa Kuscu, who moved to the U.S. from Turkey in the 80s.

He saw this as the perfect opportunity to open a local noodle shop and ultimately helped shape Ives Street into what it’s become.

Laura, Mustafa’s daughter, said despite everything her father’s business has been through, the recent hardships have proved too much.

“We have been tremendously impacted by rising food costs, payroll, payroll taxes, just the cost of everything going up,” Kuscu said. “Those economic factors are impacting everyday Americans at home. People are not able to eat out as much and it’s a trickle-down effect, and it’s impacting us.”

As if the state of the economy wasn’t hard enough, Noodles 102 got hit with a major loss in business when the westbound side of the Washington Bridge was shut down.

“Obviously it prohibited people from coming to this area of Providence, Fox Point specifically,” Kuscu said. “We had one-way traffic going down Ives Street, there was no place to park, and it was virtually impossible to actually access the restaurant in the first place.”

“I really wish the state could be a little more involved with these struggling businesses right now,” she added. “Simply offering a loan to help get us through at a low interest rate doesn’t help the businesses, it’s not truly helping us in the way that the COVID relief did.”

The owners said this week has been like a funeral for their restaurant. 

Many loyal customers said their final goodbyes and enjoyed one last bowl of noodles.