National restaurant chain CAVA, which specializes in fast-casual Mediterranean-style food, opened its first Indiana location March 14 in Fishers, one day after hosting a “community day” event introducing the restaurant to the community with free samples from the menu.
Midwest Regional Director Gino Carlin was on hand for the community day event at the new space, 11594 Whistle Dr., in the Fishers District development off 116th Street. He said part of the mission of the chain is to bring heart-healthy food to the community and they were excited to expand into Indiana.
“It’s been pretty exciting. It’s been fun to fun to do,” he said. “We serve fresh, authentic, Mediterranean-inspired food — a lot of fresh ingredients. You’re not going to find a freezer in the whole restaurant.”
Carlin said the chain started in Washington, D.C., and initially expanded on the East and West Coast and into Texas, where he’s originally from. In recent years, he said, they’ve branched into the Midwest.
“Last year we opened in Chicago, which was a huge success for us,” Carlin said. “We really look for areas that we think … align with our mission — having the belief in that same heart health and humanity type of atmosphere, and that’s what we really felt Fishers was the right place to open our first location in Indiana.”
CAVA operates hundreds of restaurants nationwide and Carlin said they are opening about 50 to 60 new locations each year. Another Indiana restaurant will open in late summer near downtown Indianapolis.
The March 13 community day event offered Fishers residents an opportunity to try CAVA’s food before the official opening. Carlin said they had 600 free tickets available and those tickets went fast. In addition to a free meal, participants could choose to donate to Gleaners Food Bank, with the restaurant matching those donations up to $1,000.
Carlin said that in addition to the Gleaners donation, the restaurant has been donating free meals that were prepared during training days for new employees, providing fresh food for those in need.
An announcement from the company stated that the Fishers restaurant will employ up to 40 people.
CAVA in Fishers is open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.
For more, visit cava.com.