Cava is finally crossing the Grapevine. The popular Mediterranean fast-casual chain will open its first Northern California restaurant next year at 3055 Olin Avenue, Suite 1035, inside San Jose’s Santana Row shopping district, with two more Bay Area locations planned nearby.
The company confirmed the expansion to Northern California directly to KRON4, which first reported the news. Jeff Gaul, speaking for the chain, said the Bay Area has long been on Cava’s radar, according to the outlet. Cava has not yet revealed the exact addresses or opening dates for the two additional Bay Area restaurants beyond confirming they will land closer to San Francisco.
The San Jose location fills a space with a rocky recent history. That same Santana Row unit was previously home to custom-burger chain The Counter, which permanently closed following health code violations in March. Santana Row itself, managed by Federal Realty Investment Trust, spans 2.5 million square feet and draws more than 8.5 million visits a year across its more than 50 shops and 30-plus restaurants, per the property’s own figures.
Ending a Southern California Monopoly
Until now, every one of Cava’s roughly 45 California locations has been clustered in Southern California communities like Westlake Village and Valencia, per KRON4’s reporting. The chain, often compared to Chipotle for its build-your-own-bowl format, opened its first restaurant in 2011 and now operates more than 450 locations nationwide with a Mediterranean-inspired menu of grain bowls, pitas, and dips…