In 1995, Marcus and Zoë Cassimus opened a 900-square-foot gem in downtown Birmingham serving gourmet Greek dishes. That small restaurant would eventually become the popular Zoë’s Kitchen.
After its success, the couple expanded across the Magic City, opening a second location in Riverchase. From there, the company grew nationally, launching 327 locations in 24 states. In 2018, CAVA Group Incorporated — a build-your-own Mediterranean bowl concept — acquired Zoë’s Kitchen and began converting its restaurants to CAVA with the help of the Cassimus family.
In 2024, their son, John Cassimus, introduced a new restaurant to honor his parents’ passion for fresh Greek cuisine. Marky’s Kitchen opened in Cahaba Heights as his way of reviving the tradition of fast, high-quality Greek food reminiscent of his parents’ original vision…