Cava Group Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) inaugurated its 500th restaurant on September 23, 2026, at 622 Washington Avenue SE in Minneapolis. The new site raises the chain’s total to 500 locations across 30 states and the District of Columbia.
According to the company, newly opened restaurants now generate more than $3 million in average annualized sales, with productivity exceeding 100 percent of the baseline. Cava employs over 15,000 team members and plans to more than double its workforce to 30,000 by 2032. Each new outlet typically hires 45 to 50 staff, supported by two leads and ten station trainers during onboarding.
The menu continues to highlight customization, offering over 17 billion possible ingredient combinations. Recent protein additions include glazed salmon and chicken shawarma, introduced over the past year.
Cava’s Community Day program, active since 2019, has raised more than $1 million in cash and food donations for anti‑food‑insecurity charities. A donation was presented to The Food Group during the Minneapolis opening, attended by all four co‑founders.
Co‑founder and CEO Brett Schulman called the milestone “a defining moment” that reflects the effort of the company’s workforce and the brand’s connection with guests. Cava aims to reach 1,000 restaurants by 2032.
