Zoë’s Extraordinary Rebranding

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- For years, Woodlands area residents with health on their minds and taste on their palates have been dining at Zoë’s Kitchen in the Sterling Ridge Shopping Center. The casual dining eatery featured on its menu a variety of chicken salad, pasta salad, pitas and grilled chicken sandwiches. The menu and atmosphere was popular everywhere; our local Zoe’s was one of more than 250 locations spread over 17 states.

From seemingly out of nowhere, however, the Woodlands Zoë’s Kitchen ceased operations, sending its regular diners into a mild tizzy. Fortunately, while this particular Zoë’s-brand restaurant is gone, what’s coming in early 2022 to replace it is part of the same family.

CAVA, a Mediterranean “fast casual” restaurant owned by the CAVA Group (rhymes with “lava”) acquired the Zoë’s brand a few years back, in 2018. With the solid history and established customer base of Woodlands residents, the parent company set into motion its plan to renovate, rebrand, and reinspire a Mediterranean culinary alternative. While ten other Zoë’s Kitchens are still scattered around the Houston Metro area, this Woodlands location has been chosen to be the first area transition from Zoë’s to CAVA.

CAVA can trace its roots back to a single restaurant opened by three friends in Rockville, Maryland, and today includes nearly 80 chef-casual restaurants and a line of chef-crafted dips and spreads sold in more than 250 whole foods market locations and specialty grocery stores.

According to the Zoë’s Kitchen website, “We’re just getting started. Learn more about the next chapter as we join together with CAVA – a leading Mediterranean culinary brand that shares the same passion for creating bold, craveable meals and exceptional guest experiences. Our commitment to quality and to you, our guest, will always be number one. And we’re incredibly thankful for all of your passion and support.”

Stay tuned to Woodlands Online for updates to the Zoë’s / CAVA story as well as other restaurant news in the area.