In 2006, Cava began in a small shopping center right outside of Washington, DC. It was founded by Ike Grigorpolous, Ted Xenohristos, and Dimitri Moshovitis. As three children of Greek immigrants, they aimed to pay homage to the mezze-style food they grew up with and turn it into a successful restaurant. They envisioned a restaurant that would introduce the vibrant Mediterranean mezze dining style to the busy streets of Washington, DC. Inspired by the cherished recipes and traditions passed down from their families. The three childhood friends partnered with co-owner Brett Schulman and opened the first Cava Mezze location in their hometown, Rockville, Maryland. The Mediterranean restaurant immediately took off and thrived as a neighborhood hangout. In 2011, they achieved the milestone of opening their first casual restaurant, Cava Grill, in Bethesda, Maryland. This location introduced the idea of building your bowl, allowing customers to customize their meals according to their preferences. This idea created a more efficient dining experience than the traditional full-service restaurant, Cava Mezze. As Cava’s popularity grew, so did its array of products. Cava expanded its reach by launching retail products in stores like Whole Foods. These products include dips and spreads that customers can purchase and enjoy at home. Fast forward 17 years after the initial launch, Cava now has over 300 locations and is now publicly owned by the parent company, Cava Group, Inc. Cava still values their initial beliefs of hospitality and traditional Mediterranean dishes. Cava now has two sister restaurants, Julli and Melina, owned by Cava founders Ted Xenohristos and Dimitri Moshoviti.