CAVA is set to open its newest restaurant in Shaw tonight. This location will be CAVA’s Innovation Kitchen, a creative space where the brand will test new menu items and technology, and host community events.  In celebration, the DC-born chain will offer free meals from 5pm-8pm on opening night. The rapidly expanding fast casual restaurant brand will open a new location at The Shay Building on 8th St NW. This latest restaurant will be the 23rd for CAVA, and the 5th in DC.

In addition to a free meal, customers will also be able to try out the new winter menu, which launched yesterday. Additionally, CAVA will be accepting donations to City Blossoms, their local non-profit partner, which has a community garden in Shaw that champions healthy eating for young people in the neighborhood.

CAVA recently won ‘Empire Builder of the Year‘ at the DC Eater Awards and is continuing to invest in its hometown. “We are a company that is firmly rooted in DC, and people here have always understood what we  are about. They seem to love our approach to serving healthy and delicious food as well as our passion for the local community so we are delighted to be able to bring the CAVA experience to the people living and working in Shaw,” said CEO Brett Schulman.

To give the opening a festive feel, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington will be performing holiday carols, while Whisked! will be selling holiday pies with 50% of proceeds going to City Blossoms. CAVA will also be serving their new Spiced Chair Green Tea for free to guests in line. The Shaw location will be open for regular hours from 11am- 10pm.