New CAVA Location Opens in Chicago's Streeterville
The fast-casual Mediterranean chain CAVA has opened a new restaurant in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood at 270 E Ontario Street. This marks the company's fifth location in Illinois as it continues its expansion in the area. During its community opening day, the restaurant raised funds for the nonprofit Food Rescue US.
- CAVA's growth strategy includes an aggressive expansion with a long-term goal of reaching 1,000 U.S. restaurants by 2032; they anticipate opening between 64 and 68 new locations in 2025. The company utilizes AI-driven tools for site selection to identify high-traffic areas, which aids their expansion into the Midwest. - The company's stock has seen significant growth since its June 2023 IPO, with shares rising 225% by August 2024. The IPO was initially priced at $22 per share and opened at $42 per share. - To engage customers and respond to popular demand, CAVA reintroduced white sweet potatoes to its menu in January 2026 after a years-long social media campaign by fans. This was part of their largest-ever menu update, which also included new high-protein bowls like the Spicy Lamb + Sweet Potato Bowl. - CAVA's expansion is increasingly focused on suburban markets, leading to a shift in its customer base. The median household income of its trade area has decreased from $122.7K in 2019 to $95.0K in 2025, indicating a broadening appeal to middle-income households. - The Streeterville neighborhood has a high population density and an average household income of $167,990. The area attracts many young professionals and retirees, with a significant portion of residents renting their homes. - In Chicago's competitive fast-casual scene, CAVA will contend with established local Mediterranean restaurants known for authentic fare, such as Pita Inn and Old Jerusalem, as well as other modern, bowl-focused concepts like Sila's Mediterranean. - The nonprofit partner for the opening, Food Rescue US, utilizes a tech-based model with a network of volunteers to collect surplus food from donors and distribute it to social service agencies in the Chicagoland area. In 2024, the national organization rescued nearly 32 million meals and diverted over 37 million pounds of food from landfills. - CAVA's digital sales now account for nearly 36% of its business, and the company is enhancing its loyalty program to increase customer frequency and gather more first-party data. The average time customers spend in a CAVA location has decreased from 42.3 minutes in 2019 to 28 minutes in 2025, reflecting an emphasis on speed and convenience.
