CAVA is set to open its newest Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant in Surprise, Arizona on Wednesday, September 30, bringing Mediterranean-inspired bowls, pitas, dips, and dressings to a fast-growing corner of the West Valley. The new location at 23350 N. 163rd Ave., Suite 120, will operate daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and it's expected to employ 25 to 40 local workers once it's fully staffed.
The Surprise debut was reported by WhatNow, which detailed the restaurant's hours, menu, and hiring plans ahead of opening day. Louie Lovejoy said CAVA's mission is to bring “heart, health, and humanity” to food, and added that the company is thrilled to be in Surprise and plans to keep growing its footprint across the Phoenix area, per the same report. The new restaurant sits inside Asante Trails, a multi-phase commercial development by SimonCRE located at 163rd Avenue and Pat Tillman Boulevard, according to Go Local Arizona.
A Retail Hub Built for a Booming Neighborhood
Asante Trails' first retail phase already includes national fast-casual and service tenants such as First Watch, Chipotle, Jimmy John's, Baskin-Robbins, Dave's Hot Chicken, and Clean Freak Car Wash, with a second phase set to bring in Sprouts Farmers Market and EōS Fitness, according to ICSC. The overall 90-acre Asante Trails master plan sets aside 20 acres for a planned HonorHealth hospital facility alongside 35 acres of retail and dining space, per Connect CRE.
That mixed-use footprint exists to serve the surrounding 1,500-acre Asante master-planned residential community, which is projected to grow to more than 15,000 homes upon completion, according to Evergreen Devco. The City of Surprise added more than 32,000 residents between 2020 and 2025, according to the Daily Independent. Elsewhere on 163rd Avenue, at Pinnacle Peak Road, a Panda Express is planned, according to YourValley.net.
Free Meals and a Charity Match Before Opening Day
Ahead of the official opening, CAVA invited new neighbors to a free meal and accepted donations supporting a local cause, matching contributions up to $1,000. The company offered free food and asked attendees to sign up for a set time. Since 2019, CAVA's Community Day program nationwide has raised more than $1 million in monetary and food donations.
In Surprise, the Community Day event raised funds for St. Mary's Food Bank, an organization with deep Arizona roots. St. Mary's was founded in Phoenix in 1967 by John van Hengel as the world's first food bank, and it now distributes food across nine Arizona counties, providing enough for more than 250,000 daily meals, according to a history compiled on Wikipedia.
Jobs, Benefits, and a National Growth Streak
Beyond the charity tie-in, CAVA says it hires for “hospitality and warmth” and is dedicated to creating career pathways for team members. The company offers competitive pay and benefits, including paid time off, healthcare, early wage access, an employee assistance program, and free mental health support.
The Surprise opening lands as CAVA rides a national growth streak. The chain crossed the 500-restaurant mark in September with an opening in Minneapolis, putting it ahead of schedule on its goal of reaching 1,000 locations by 2032, according to a report carried by Seeking Alpha.
