New restaurant CAVA opens at Hamilton Place Observation Deck

CAVA opened a new restaurant Friday at 2260 Gunbarrel Road, Suite 207, in the Overlook at Hamilton Place.

The fast-food chain offers Mediterranean-style dishes, pitas, sauces and dressings to help people “eat well and live well.” These menu offerings, combined with an emphasis on hospitality and serving others, have created a diverse, passionate following that flocks to new restaurant openings, officials say.

“Our mission is to bring heart, health and humanity to food, and everything we do at CAVA is rooted in that spirit of generosity to our guests, our team members and our community,” said Louis Lovejoy, regional director. “We are very excited to open another restaurant in Chattanooga.”

Before the doors officially open, each CAVA restaurant invites its new neighbors to the table for a free meal, accepts donations to support a local cause, and matches those donations up to $1,000. Since 2019, the company-wide Community Day program has raised more than $500,000 in donations, primarily aimed at improving food security in local communities. CAVA’s Chattanooga Community Day event raised funds for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, a Feeding America member organization whose mission is to lead a network of partners and unite the community to end hunger by feeding, nourishing and empowering those it serves.

Prior to the grand opening, CAVA also partnered with the Salvation Army and Union Gospel Mission to donate fresh meals prepared throughout the restaurant’s training period to members of the local community. The company’s food donation program launched nationally in fall 2023 with the goal of improving food security and reducing food waste as CAVA expands to new locations.

The new CAVA restaurant in Chattanooga will employ 30-40 local residents. The company hires people for their hospitality and warmth and strives to create career paths for its team members. CAVA offers competitive pay and benefits, including paid time off, health care, early access to wages, an employee assistance program and free mental health support, CAVA officials said.