CAVA Expands to the St. Louis Area, Dishing Out Craveable Mediterranean Meals

As CAVA expands in the Midwest, Cottleville debuts as its first St. Louis-area restaurant, with a second restaurant opening in Des Peres later this year

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CAVA (NYSE: CAVA), the category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, opened its doors today at 4765 B Hwy N, Cottleville, MO 63304. CAVA Cottleville is a 2,900-square-foot restaurant featuring a bright, welcoming dining room, seamless digital order pick-up, and delivery options designed to meet guests wherever they are in their day.

CAVA brings its signature Mediterranean flavors to the St. Louis area, offering a fresh, feel-good dining experience rooted in bold taste and quality ingredients. Guests can enjoy chef-curated bowls and pitas or build their own with more than 17 billion combinations, giving them the ability to completely personalize their meal. The menu features a mix of everyday favorites and limited-time offerings, including craveable dips and pita chips, hearty proteins, house-made drinks, and as many toppings as you want. And, starting Monday, April 20, guests can enjoy the newest addition to the menu: Glazed Salmon.

“St. Louis is a city with deep roots, bustling neighborhoods, and a culture that celebrates coming together – whether it’s cheering on your favorite sports team or connecting over a great meal,” said Jeff Gaul, Chief Development Officer of CAVA. “We’re excited to become a part of that fabric and introduce our fresh, bold Mediterranean flavors to the Cottleville community, creating a space where people can gather, recharge, and make CAVA part of their everyday routine. With a second St. Louis location opening later this year, we look forward to inviting even more members of the community to our table.”

To celebrate CAVA’s arrival to Cottleville, CAVA invited guests in for a complimentary meal during its Community Day celebration, accepting donations to support a local cause – matching those donations up to $1,000. Since 2019, this company-wide Community Day program has raised more than $1 million in monetary and food donations for organizations working to combat food insecurity across the country.

Keeping with CAVA’s tradition, the Cottleville Community Day event will raise funds for the St. Louis Area Foodbank, a local nonprofit that firmly believes everyone deserves access to food and the promise of a healthy diet. Through its network of partners and programs across 26 counties in Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois, the St. Louis Area Foodbank works to revolutionize the hunger relief system. CAVA also donated fresh meals prepared throughout the restaurant’s training period to local community members. The company's food donation program, launched nationally in fall 2023, helps reduce food waste and expand access to fresh meals as CAVA grows into new communities.

With a goal of reaching at least 1,000 restaurants by 2032, CAVA continues to rapidly expand its national footprint. Following last month’s entry into Ohio with its Cincinnati location, the brand now operates in 29 states and the District of Columbia and is on track to open its 500th restaurant later this year. Building on an established presence in the region – including recent openings in Detroit, Canton, and Indianapolis – CAVA is continuing to grow across the Midwest while expanding into new markets nationwide. In the St. Louis area, a second suburban location is also slated to open later this year.

CAVA’s Cottleville restaurant will employ 25-40 local people and will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. CAVA seeks team members who lead with hospitality and warmth, and is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for growth and advancement. The brand offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, healthcare, early wage access, free CAVA meals, an Employee Assistance Program, and access to free mental health support.

To learn more about CAVA, follow @CAVA on social channels, including TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

About CAVA

CAVA is the category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, bringing together healthful food and bold, satisfying flavors at scale. Our brand and our opportunity transcend the Mediterranean category to compete in the large and growing limited-service restaurant sector as well as the health and wellness food category. CAVA serves guests across age groups, genders, and income brackets and benefits from generational tailwinds created by consumer demand for healthy living and a demographic shift towards greater ethnic diversity. We meet consumers’ desires to engage with convenient, authentic, purpose-driven brands that view food as a source of self-expression. The broad appeal of our food combined with these favorable industry trends drive our vast opportunity for continued growth.