Szechuan Favorite Is Closing Soon — This Time for Real

Noodle Express has thought closure was imminent before, but this time, it’s unavoidable.

The restaurant opened in February 2020 in a former Rubio’s in the same complex as the Belcaro King Soopers, just before COVID-19 turned the typically busy Colorado Boulevard area (along with the rest of the city) into a ghost town. The timing made for a rough start, and it didn’t help that the eatery’s name gave no hint that the menu included standout Szechuan specialties. Still, it had managed to amass a loyal fan base by early 2022.

That February, though, we confirmed a rumor that Noodle Express would be closing by the end of the month; its lease was ending, and the landlord wasn’t open to renewing because the entire shopping center was set to be demolished and redeveloped — at some point.

Then a very cool thing happened: As news of the impending closure spread, hungry diners came out in droves to show their support. At one point, Noodle Express got so busy that it had to close early after it ran out of food. Ultimately, the landlord reconsidered and Noodle Express was able to stay open.

Flash forward to the summer of 2024, when a new sign appeared in the Noodle Express window, stating that its current lease was up at the end of August and that “the landlord has not offered any kind of extensions yet. We will inform our valuable customers as soon as the status changes.”

Once again, though, an extension was granted — the redevelopment was still on hold.

Now, though, the countdown to demolishing the entire Belcaro Shopping Center — including the Noodle Express building — is actually on. “Due to King Soopers is taking back the property and rebuilding a condo/apartment, we have been notified that we need to close at the end of May,” reads the sign currently posted on the door at Noodle Express. “In the meantime, please continue supporting us until the end of May. Thank you so much!”

A call to the restaurant confirmed the news, with no hope of another last-minute renegotiation. The business won’t be coming back in a new location, either, as the owners are ready to retire.

Noodle Express shares its building with Osaka Sushi, which will likely face the same fate, though it has not yet confirmed a closing date.

Our advice: visit both in the next two months and let’s help these businesses go out on a high note.

Noodle Express is located at 703 South Colorado Boulevard and will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday until late May (a specific closing day has yet to be announced). The restaurant does not have a website or social media, but you can place orders online via qmenu.us.