Two fast casual pasta restaurants are set to open in Manhattan. The first of 10 Hello Pasta locations is set to open in June, reports the Wall Street Journal.
A month later, Strasbourg, France-based Nooi will open its first U.S. location 13 blocks from Hello Pasta. Nooi has 50 locations across France and both concepts are based on the build-your-own method of ordering.
Nooi is being run in the United States by Christopher Sanchez, chief operating officer of Nooï North America.
From the Wall Street Journal:
The fast-food pasta concept is one that exploded in France, which has three major chains and several smaller operations, some expanding elsewhere in Europe.The Hello Pasta founders are receiving undisclosed financing from British-born billionaire and chairman and CEO of GFI Group Inc., Mickey Gooch. ...Mr. Sanchez said he expects some of the other big chains in France to come to New York, and said there is room for everyone. "How many hamburger places are there in the U.S.?"
