Overview
- Cava, which opened Friday, debuted its first St. Louis-area restaurant in Cottleville and said a second suburban site in Des Peres will follow later in 2026.
- The company framed the launch as part of a broader Midwest buildout and said it is on track for about 500 restaurants in 2026 after reporting 439 in Q4 2025.
- Cava said Glazed Salmon will join its core menu, adding a new protein meant to help draw traffic across new and existing stores.
- The opening featured a Community Day with free meals, a donation match up to $1,000, and fundraising for the St. Louis Area Foodbank, alongside 25–40 local jobs at the Cottleville site.
- Market reports said shares rose about 3% Friday to roughly $94, near a 52-week high, with sentiment linked to the expansion and a long-term goal of at least 1,000 restaurants by 2032.