Chain restaurants are taking over the world, and while for a very long time that meant fast food restaurants that were convenient and cheap, but in later years this definition has changed. As customers fall in love with a specific restaurant that can only be found in one place they begin clamoring for it to open in more places and thus a chain is born. This is what happened with Cava, a Mediterranean style restaurant that became hugely popular in the past few years and is now gearing up to expand to 60 more locations all over the US in 2025.
While this plan sounds very ambitious, this is not their first expansion, they did a similar thing last year in 2024 when they opened 58 new restaurants. This expansion would have been risky for them, except for the fact that customers loved it and it became insanely popular, with many of their new customers swiftly declaring it their new favorite restaurant.
And they are not stopping at this latest expansion. The 60 new restaurants will increase their number of locations to 367, spread across 26 states and Washington, D.C., but their goal is much more ambitious than that. Accroding to a statement made by the company to USA Today, they plan to bring their “flavor-packed Mediterranean-inspired bowls, pitas, dips, and dressings, helping people eat well and live well” to more than 1,000 locations by 2032.
While this expansion will take a minute, it is no wonder that they are successful, they offer free mental health support as well as other benefits that include paid time off, healthcare, early wage access, and an Employee Assistance Program for their workers, as well as plenty of other community enhancing measures like a free meal to the new communities they serve.
Brett Schulman, Co-Founder and CEO of CAVA said in a statement “Our category-defining Mediterranean concept has received a warm welcome in every community we’ve entered and grown in, and we’re excited to bring our vibrant flavors and hospitality to Indiana with the opening of our first Fishers location. We look forward to welcoming the Hoosiers community to our table as we continue delivering on our mission of bringing heart, health, and humanity to food.”
This is not just lip service, they really look forward to giving back to the community, as the statement continues “CAVA invites its new neighbors to the table for a free meal, accepts donations to support a local cause, and matches those donations up to $1,000″ while also adding that “CAVA donated fresh meals prepared throughout the restaurant’s training period to local community members”.
New Cava restaurant locations in 2025
Durham, North Carolina: 8128 Renaissance Parkway, #114, Durham, NC 27713; Opened on Jan. 17
Glen Allen, Virginia: 9964 Brook Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059; Opened on Jan. 18
Ocala, Florida: 2800 SW College Road, Suite 101, Ocala, FL 34474; Opened on Jan. 31
East Brunswick, New Jersey: 300 NJ-18, Unit #1, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 (in Midstate Mall); Opened on Jan. 31
Chelmsford, Massachusetts: 40 Drum Hill Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824; Opened on Feb. 21
Union, New Jersey: 1235 W. Chestnut St., Suite G, Union, NJ, 07083; Opened on Feb. 28
Palm Harbor, Florida: 33163 US Hwy 19 N., Palm Harbor, FL, 34684; Opened on March 6
Lafayette, Louisiana: 4220 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Lafayette, LA 70508; Opened on March 14
Fishers, Indiana: 11594 Whistle Drive, Suite 150, Fishers, IN 46037; Opened on March 14
New York, New York: 1535 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10028; Opened on March 21
New Orleans, Louisiana: 5001 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115; Opened on April 4
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts: 220 Boylston St, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467; Opened on April 4
Leander, Texas: 128 South Brook Drive, Leander, TX 78641; Opened on April 11
Marlton, New Jersey: 349 Route 70 West, Marlton, NJ 08053; Opened on April 16