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CAVA Marks 500 Restaurant Locations as It Ramps Up Nationwide Growth

HOSPITALITY

9/24/20262 min read

CAVA’s co‑founders, Brett Schulman, Chef Dimitri Moshovitis, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Ted Xenohristos, gathered for the ribbon‑cutting ceremony and presented a Community Day donation to The Food Group.

CAVA has officially reached a major milestone, 500 restaurants nationwide, with the opening of its newest location at 622 Washington Avenue SE in Minneapolis. The launch marks the brand’s entrance into Minnesota, expanding its footprint to 30 states and the District of Columbia.

The celebration brought together CAVA’s four co‑founders, Brett Schulman, Chef Dimitri Moshovitis, Ike Grigoropoulos, and Ted Xenohristos, for a ribbon‑cutting ceremony and a check presentation to The Food Group, the company’s Community Day partner.

CEO Brett Schulman emphasized that the milestone reflects the passion of more than 15,000 team members and the strong connection CAVA has built with guests across the country.

Strong Performance Fuels Rapid Expansion

CAVA’s growth trajectory remains ahead of schedule. The company is poised to surpass its goal of 1,000 restaurants by 2032, doubling its footprint over the next several years.

Key performance metrics highlight the brand’s momentum:

New restaurant productivity remains above 100%
New locations generate more than $3 million in average annualized sales
The company expects to grow its workforce from 15,000 to more than 30,000 employees by 2032

These figures underscore CAVA’s disciplined expansion strategy, which balances established markets, in‑fill development, and greenfield opportunities across suburban and urban areas.

Entering New Markets While Deepening Existing Ones

The Minneapolis opening represents more than a milestone, it signals CAVA’s continued push into new regions while strengthening density in existing markets. Each new restaurant requires 45–50 trained team members, supported by dedicated opening leads and station trainers to ensure a consistent guest experience from day one.

CAVA’s development approach includes:

Market expansion into new states
Density building in established regions
Operational infrastructure investment to support scaling

Menu Innovation Continues to Drive Guest Excitement

CAVA’s culinary strategy remains central to its growth. The brand offers more than 17 billion possible ingredient combinations, giving guests endless ways to customize their meals.

Recent menu additions include:

Glazed Salmon
Chicken Shawarma
New pita chip flavors

These innovations reflect CAVA’s commitment to expanding the possibilities of Mediterranean cuisine while staying true to its roots.

Community Impact and Philanthropy

CAVA’s Community Day program has raised more than $1 million in monetary and food donations since 2019, supporting organizations focused on food insecurity. The Minneapolis opening continued this tradition with a donation to The Food Group.

Looking Ahead: Building the Next 500 Restaurants

As CAVA moves toward its 1,000‑restaurant goal, the company remains focused on:

Delivering bold Mediterranean flavors
Maintaining warm hospitality
Scaling with discipline and consistency
Investing in people, training, and infrastructure

With strong performance metrics, a clear development strategy, and a rapidly expanding national presence, CAVA is entering its next chapter positioned as a category‑defining leader in fast‑casual dining.

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