September 7 might be Labor Day, but CAVA is getting down to business. The quickly growing Mediterranean fast-casual chain is opening its first New Braunfels location at 323 Creekside Crossing in the Town Center at Creekside development.First-generation Greek Americans Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropou los, and Dimitri Moshovitis first launched the brand as a full-service restaurant in Rockville, Maryland, in 2006. The dips and spreads were so popular that they spawned a product line in 2008 and, later, a fast-casual restaurant that was a template for the chain.The restaurant applied the Chipotle model to Mediterranean fare. Guests start with a base of greens, grains, or pita and build their own dish with proteins such as braised lamb and harissa honey chicken, adding various toppings, spreads, and dressings like strawberry sesame or yogurt dill.The formula makes CAVA one of the few success stories of the shrinking fast-casual market. The current craze for high-protein meals, plus modest price increases during inflation, have helped form an ambitious plan to expand to 1,000 units by 2032.“Our mission is to bring heart, health, and humanity to food, and everything we do at CAVA is grounded in that spirit of generosity, to our guests, our team members, and our community,” said Louie Lovejoy, Regional Director, in a release.The New Braunfels outpost will serve from 10:30 am-10 pm daily, and it comes with a philanthropic push. Before the restaurant opens, CAVA will collect donations for the San Antonio Food Bank during two community days. The chain will match all gifts up to $1,000.The debut puts the restaurant in the middle of one of New Braunfels’ most transformative developments. Among its fellow tenants will be budget-minded gym Eōs Fitness, sneakily named Kentucky steakhouse Texas Roadhouse, Orlando-based chain Jeremiah's Italian Ice, and a Chick-fil-A drive-thru. ...read more read less