Fifteen years ago this week, CAVA opened its very first restaurant in Bethesda (4832 Betheada Ave. at Bethesda Row). What started as a bold idea has since grown into several hundred locations nationwide, along with a brand that has reshaped fast casual dining through a focus on Mediterranean flavors, hospitality, and community.
For the founders, this milestone also carries a strong local connection. Dimitri attended Quince Orchard High School, Ike went to Gaithersburg High School, and Ted is a Paint Branch alum, grounding the company’s roots firmly in Montgomery County. From those beginnings to ringing the opening bell as a public company on the New York Stock Exchange, the journey has included milestones few could have imagined at the start.
Over the years, CAVA welcomed Zoës Kitchen into its family, expanded its dips and dressings into grocery stores across the country, and continued to evolve its menu through constant experimentation. Some ideas became fan favorites, while others quietly disappeared along the way. Throughout it all, the company says its core mission has remained the same: bringing heart, health, and humanity to food.
That commitment, CAVA notes, shapes how it serves guests, supports its teams, and shows up in the communities it calls home. Whether customers stop in occasionally for pita chips or order their favorite bowl multiple times a week, the founders say that support has been central to the brand’s growth.
As CAVA marks its 15th anniversary, the company says it is far from finished. Celebrations are planned throughout the year, with more to come as the brand continues to grow from its Bethesda beginnings.
