Cava Expands to Michigan, Plans 1,000 Locations by 2032

Cava, a Mediterranean restaurant chain, has opened its first location in Michigan, in the Detroit suburb of Canton. This marks the company's 28th state and part of its broader plan to expand across the state. Cava finished 2024 with 58 net new restaurants for 367 total and is projecting 64 to 68 new units in 2025, including in new markets Detroit and Pittsburgh. The company is targeting 1,000 locations by 2032.

CAVA, a leading Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain, has opened its first location in Michigan, marking the company's 28th state and part of its broader expansion plans. The new restaurant is situated at 43450 Ford Road in Canton, Michigan, and features a dining room, digital order pick-up, and delivery options. The location is open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. [1]

CAVA's entry into Michigan is part of its aggressive expansion strategy, with plans to open additional locations in the state later this year. The company aims to reach 1,000 locations by 2032, following its successful 2024 fiscal year, which saw 58 net new restaurants, bringing the total to 367. For 2025, CAVA is projecting 64 to 68 new units, including in new markets like Detroit and Pittsburgh [2].

The Canton location offers a fully customizable menu with 38 ingredients, allowing customers to create over 17 billion combinations through bowls, pitas, chips, dips, juices, and dressings. CAVA's Regional Leader, Gino Carlin, expressed excitement about joining the Southeast Michigan community and introducing guests to the bold, vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean [1][3].

CAVA's financial performance in the first quarter of 2025 was robust, with revenue increasing by 28.2% year over year to $328.5 million. Same restaurant sales grew by 10.8%, driven by a 7.5% increase in traffic. The company opened 15 net new restaurants, expanding its footprint to 382 locations, an 18.3% increase year over year. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 34.6% to $44.9 million compared to the first quarter of 2024 [2].

However, CAVA faces challenges such as increased food, beverage, and packaging costs due to steak impact, which affected overall profit margins. Labor and related costs remain a significant expense, although they decreased slightly as a percentage of revenue. The company anticipates potential challenges in maintaining the same restaurant sales growth rate due to lapping previous year's steak offerings [2].

CAVA's Community Day program, which includes donating meals to local food banks, raised funds for the Gleaners Food Bank of Southeast Michigan, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger. The company also employs 25-40 local people at its Canton location, offering competitive pay and benefits [4].

References:
[1] https://www.wxyz.com/news/crowds-line-up-for-grand-opening-of-first-cava-location-in-michigan
[2] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2989052/cava-expands-into-michigan-with-new-canton-location-cava-stock-news
[3] https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2025/07/21/new-mediterranean-restaurant-opens-first-michigan-location-in-canton-township/
[4] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250720837786/en/CAVAs-First-Ever-Michigan-Restaurant-Opens-in-Canton