Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant Cava is coming soon to 4th Street in St. Pete
/Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant, Cava, offers build-your-own salads, grain bowls, rice bowls, and pitas
A fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain with a build-your-own-bowl business model is coming soon to St. Pete.
Cava will take over the former Zoës Kitchen, which closed in 2020, at 1320 4th Street North.
In November 2018, Cava Group Inc. acquired all 261 locations of Zoës Kitchen for $300 million. Ever since, the company has been flipping Zoës Kitchen locations across the country.
“Conversions are an efficient, cost-effective means of market entry, as we repurpose a good deal of the existing restaurant infrastructure when converting to a Cava location,” said Brett Schulman, CEO and co-founder of Cava, in a March 2021 interview with Nation’s Restaurant News.
Cava will take over the former Zoës Kitchen, which closed in 2020, at 1320 4th Street North
The Washington DC-based chain has over 200 locations either open or coming soon in 20 states and DC.
Although there are currently no Cava locations in Florida, job postings on Cava’s website indicate restaurants are also coming soon to Tampa, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Orlando, Winter Springs, and Winter Park.
Cava features a food assembly line, similar to Chipotle, that lets diners customize their meal using an assortment of bases, spreads, proteins, toppings, and dressings.
Kava’s build-your-own salad with grilled chicken, pickled onions, Persian cucumber, tomato, crumbled feta, tzatziki, and hummus.
Diners first choose whether they want a salad, a grain bowl, green + grains, a mini pita, a large pita, or a bowl of RightRice, which is a high protein and high fiber grain made from 90% vegetables (lentils, chickpeas, and peas).
Next, pick from a selection of six dips and spreads, such as regular hummus or red pepper hummus, tzatziki, harissa, roasted eggplant puree, and “crazy feta”, which is a jalapeño-infused feta mousse made with the finest imported Greek feta.
Protein options include spicy lamb meatballs, harissa honey chicken, grilled chicken, grilled meatballs, braised lamb, and vegetarian options like falafel and roasted vegetables.
Then add some toppings, like Persian cucumber, avocado, pickled onions, fire-roasted corn, and lentil tabbouleh.
Cava’s build-your-own pita featuring grilled chicken, salt-brined pickles, tomato + onion salad, and crumbled feta
Lastly, finish the dish off with a dressing. There are eight to choose from, including lemon herb tahini, yogurt dill, a hot harissa vinaigrette, and more.
To drink, Cava offers house-made seasonal juices and teas, with flavors like Cucumber Mint Lime, Blueberry Lavender, and Strawberry Citrus. Other beverage options include Spindrift sparkling water and fountain soda.
The buildout of Cava’s St. Pete space is estimated to cost $175,000 according to permits filed with the City of St. Pete. Hiring for the new location has already begun.
Once complete, the 2,977 square foot restaurant will be able to seat 113 diners.
An opening date has not been announced.
Follow Cava on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the brand.
