CAVA (NYSE: CAVA), the fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant brand known for redefining the dining experience with bold flavors and customizable dishes, has officially opened its first Michigan location. Situated at 43450 Ford Road in Canton, this milestone marks the company’s entrance into its 28th U.S. state and signals CAVA’s ongoing commitment to national expansion.
The new Canton location is a spacious 3,850-square-foot restaurant designed to cater to both dine-in guests and the growing demand for digital ordering. The facility features a welcoming dining room, a streamlined digital pick-up station, and infrastructure to support third-party delivery services. CAVA Canton is open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering customers a vibrant and accessible Mediterranean dining experience.
Bringing the Mediterranean to Michigan
CAVA’s mission is rooted in the heart, health, and humanity of food. With a menu inspired by the diverse and flavorful culinary traditions of the Mediterranean region, the brand offers fully customizable options that include bowls, pitas, chips, dips, and house-made juices and dressings. Guests can choose from 38 fresh ingredients, yielding over 17 billion possible combinations, allowing each visitor to create a meal that’s uniquely theirs.
“We’re thrilled to join the Southeast Michigan community and introduce more guests to the bold, vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean,” said Gino Carlin, Regional Leader at CAVA. “Entering the state of Michigan marks our 28th state, and we’re eager to welcome more guests in the Midwest and throughout the country to our table to enjoy our Mediterranean cuisine and hospitality.”
Carlin emphasized that this new opening is more than just another location—it represents a deeper engagement with a community that values quality, nutrition, and flavor. The Canton location is the first of several planned in Michigan as part of CAVA’s ongoing national expansion strategy.
A Community-Focused Approach to Growth
Before opening the doors of any new location, CAVA continues its long-standing tradition of hosting a Community Day—an event that offers complimentary meals to guests while raising funds for a local nonprofit organization. The company matches up to $1,000 in guest donations for each Community Day event. Since its launch in 2019, this initiative has raised over $600,000 in support of local organizations addressing food insecurity.
For its Canton opening, CAVA partnered with Gleaners Food Bank of Southeast Michigan, a regional nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and improving access to nutritious food. Gleaners provides millions of pounds of food annually to a network of food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, and schools across the region. The donations raised during Community Day, along with CAVA’s match, will help support Gleaners’ critical food relief programs.
In addition to the Community Day fundraiser, CAVA also donates fresh meals prepared during staff training to those in need. This food donation effort, introduced nationally in 2023, aims to fight food waste while simultaneously addressing food insecurity in newly established communities. The Canton opening followed suit, with freshly prepared meals distributed to local residents and community partners prior to launch.
A Growing National Footprint
CAVA’s rapid expansion reflects its growing popularity among consumers seeking healthful, flavor-forward meals in a fast-casual format. In Fiscal Year 2024, the company opened 58 net new restaurants and projects at least 17 percent growth in its store count for 2025. With the goal of operating 1,000 restaurants by 2032, the company’s momentum is accelerating, particularly in regions like the Midwest where interest in Mediterranean-inspired cuisine is rising.
The addition of Michigan brings the brand’s presence to 28 states and the District of Columbia. Upcoming openings in other parts of Michigan are already on the horizon as CAVA deepens its investment in the region.
Employment and Career Opportunities
Beyond its culinary offerings, CAVA is equally committed to building strong internal communities by investing in its workforce. The new Canton location will employ between 25 and 40 team members, recruited locally and trained to deliver the brand’s signature hospitality.
CAVA hires team members based not just on experience, but on their genuine warmth and dedication to service. Once hired, employees receive competitive compensation and benefits designed to support both their personal and professional well-being. This includes paid time off, healthcare coverage, early wage access, and access to an Employee Assistance Program. Additionally, all team members receive free mental health support—a benefit CAVA has prioritized as part of its broader approach to fostering a healthy, supportive workplace culture.
The company also places a strong emphasis on career advancement, offering training and development opportunities for employees to grow within the organization. Whether starting as a team member or looking to advance into management, CAVA provides a clear pathway to long-term career success.
A Fresh Take on Fast-Casual Dining
CAVA’s success lies in its ability to blend high-quality ingredients, authentic Mediterranean flavors, and customer personalization in a format that’s fast and convenient. This unique offering has positioned the company as a standout in the competitive fast-casual space. Guests can choose from a curated selection of proteins such as grilled chicken, falafel, roasted vegetables, or lamb meatballs, and complement their meals with house-made hummus, harissa, and tzatziki, among other signature dips and dressings.
Digital innovation is also a key part of the CAVA experience. In addition to in-store ordering, guests can place orders via CAVA’s app and website, making it easy to customize meals, schedule pickups, and access rewards. The Canton restaurant features a dedicated area for digital orders, ensuring speed and efficiency for on-the-go customers.
