CAVA, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain, has announced the grand opening of its first location in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The new restaurant will be the company's first in the upper Midwest market.
Located at 1484 N. Milwaukee Avenue, the restaurant offers a 3,100-square-foot space with a 30-seat dining area, digital order pick-up and delivery options, and an expanded kitchen for catering services.
According to Brett Schulman, Co-Founder and CEO of CAVA, "Our success in new and existing markets demonstrates the power of our category-defining Mediterranean concept. We are excited to bring CAVA to the upper Midwest. As we welcome Chicagoans to our table, we look forward to becoming part of the community and delivering on our mission of bringing heart, health, and humanity to food."
CAVA's menu is a culinary adventure, offering customizable bowls and pitas with a tantalizing array of Mediterranean flavors. From the succulent harissa honey chicken to the zesty garlic and Zhug dressings, each dish is a masterpiece. The restaurant is also renowned for its signature Crazy Feta® dip, a must-try for any food enthusiast.
CAVA's commitment to the community is at the heart of its mission. As part of their grand opening, they hosted a 'Community Day' at the Wicker Park location, offering free meals to new neighbors and collecting donations for Dion's Chicago Dream, a local non-profit organization fighting food insecurity. CAVA's generosity was matched by their customers, with all donations up to $1,000 being doubled.
The Wicker Park restaurant also partnered with Food Rescue US to donate pre-opening meals prepared during staff training to those in need.
CAVA has commissioned Chicago-based artist Alyssa Low to create a custom mural for the restaurant's interior, showcasing a commitment to supporting local talent.
The company aims to have 1,000 locations by 2032. Currently, it operates 325 restaurants in 25 states and the District of Columbia.
CAVA is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant that offers healthy and flavorful food options on a large scale. It sees itself as competitors in the broader limited-service restaurant market, with a diverse clientele of all genders, age groups, and income levels. By focusing on customization and tapping into growing industry trends, CAVA believes it has a strong foundation for future growth.