How Cava Grew From One to 380 Locations | Entrepreneur

""We wanted to do it for an affordable price and [offer] something that people could share," Xenohristos says. "We built that first restaurant with our bare hands. Everything [was] from the Dollar Store, Target, Home Goods.""

""We used our Mediterranean hospitality that we grew up knowing, without a marketing budget, without signs outside, without a POS system," Xenohristos says. "We gave people free things - free drinks, free food, free dessert - and they eventually told other people, and before you knew it, that little restaurant had a really long line.""

Ted Xenohristos drew inspiration from his immigrant parents' Greek heritage and the food he ate growing up. The first Cava opened inside an old Russian bakery in Rockville, Maryland, built by founders with inexpensive items from Dollar Store, Target and Home Goods. Early operations involved long hours, little budget, and a focus on Mediterranean hospitality and generosity, offering free drinks, food and dessert to attract customers. Rapid word-of-mouth led to a second location within six months and a retail line of dips and spreads. Cava expanded to 380 locations across 28 states and Washington, D.C., while maintaining core values of hospitality and care.

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