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Minneapolis

CAVA Opened Its 500th Restaurant Location

The fast-casual Mediterranean chain has reached a major milestone with its latest expansion into Minneapolis.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Dining Out

Bold vector editorial illustration of a bowl of pita bread and olives on a wooden table, representing modern Mediterranean dining.
CAVA celebrated the opening of its 500th restaurant location in Minneapolis on Tuesday, marking a major milestone in the Mediterranean chain's national expansion. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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CAVA officially celebrated the opening of its 500th restaurant location on September 23, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company now operates in 30 states and Washington, DC, marking a significant footprint growth since its fast-casual debut.

Why it matters

The opening highlights the rapid scale of the Mediterranean chain that has evolved from a local concept into a major national player. This growth underscores the brand's ability to maintain consistent unit performance as it expands across the country.

New CAVA restaurants generate more than $3 million in average annualized sales. The company currently employs over 15,000 people across its national operations.

The players

CAVA

This fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain operates hundreds of locations across the United States.

The details

The company evolved from the original Cava Mezze full-service concept founded in 2006 to the fast-casual model that debuted in 2011. Since going public in 2023, the brand has continued to scale its operations while leveraging its Community Day program to support local initiatives.

Timeline

  1. In 2006, founders launched the full-service Cava Mezze in Rockville.

  2. The first fast-casual CAVA opened in Bethesda in January 2011.

  3. The Community Day program began generating donations in 2019.

  4. CAVA went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2023.

  5. CAVA opened its 500th restaurant on September 23, 2026.

Roadmap

This milestone marks a critical juncture as the brand accelerates its expansion toward its 2032 goal of 1,000 restaurants. The rapid scaling reflects a broader industry shift where fast-casual chains are increasingly prioritizing aggressive national footprints to compete for market share.

Local residents gain new access to the chain's Mediterranean menu options in Minneapolis. This expansion also contributes to the local labor market as the company continues to hire staff for its growing number of sites.

The takeaway

CAVA has demonstrated that rapid scaling in the fast-casual sector is possible while maintaining high average unit sales. This growth trajectory highlights the company's focus on long-term national expansion following its transition to a public entity.

What happens next

CAVA has set a corporate objective to reach at least 1,000 restaurant locations and a workforce of more than 30,000 employees by 2032.

Further reading

For more on the local food scene, explore our Dining Out section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The MoCo Show.

Live Poll

When a local restaurant brand expands nationally, do you trust it to maintain its quality?