D.C.’s Fast-Casual Cava Announces Arrival Date in Encinitas

Based in Washington, D.C., Cava officially adds San Diego to its rapid expansion plan with an outpost scheduled to open on Monday, October 1 in the Encinitas Town Center. It’s the 67th location nationwide for the brand, which operates 10 branches in Southern California. Founded in 2011 by childhood friends Ted Xenohristos and Ike Grigoropoulos, along with executive chef Dimitri Moshovitis, the popular fast-casual eatery serves a highly-customizable Mediterranean menu of salads, pita breads, or grain bowls filled with more than 50 varieties of dips, proteins, toppings, and sauces.

Clocking in at 2,684-square-feet and 52 seats, Cava Encinitas will launch with the brand’s new fall menu, which includes seasonal roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, carrots, and cauliflower and a Greek minestrone soup. Open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., the eatery is hosting a pre-opening event on Sunday, September 30 and giving away lunch between 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The meals will be free, but diners will be encouraged to make a donation to The Ecology Center, a local nonprofit, which will be on-hand conducting gardening lessons and creating an edible garden pop-up.

The company, which is in the process of acquiring Zoe’s Kitchen, another casual Mediterranean chain, expects to open more Cava locations in the San Diego area. The next is slated to open in early 2019 as part of North County’s One Paseo complex and a third will be part of The Watermark, a Scripps Ranch development anchored by Whole Foods Market and The Lot which is scheduled to launch in late 2020.