Charlotte chain dining war? Chipotle, Cava to open side-by-side in Steele Creek
Chipotle and Cava are set to open new restaurants, right beside each other, in RiverGate Shopping Center.
Neither restaurant has a confirmed opening date. A spokesperson for Cava said the new location is expected to open later this summer. A spokesperson for Chipotle shared the new location is expected to open this fall.
Cava plans to hire 25 to 40 part-time and full-time employees.
Chipotle would not confirm any details on the new restaurant.
About Cava
In May, Cava opened its seventh Charlotte location in Northcrest Shopping Center.
It reported in the first quarter of 2025 that its revenue grew 28.2% to $328.5 million compared to last year’s first quarter.
It has restaurants in 26 states and the District of Columbia.
Cava is a fast casual Mediterranean restaurant.
About Chipotle
It reported in the first quarter of 2025 its total revenue increased 6.4% to $2.9 billion compared to last year’s first quarter.
As part of the company’s expansion, it plans to open 315 to 345 new restaurants in 2025. It anticipates 80% of these will feature a Chipotlane.
As of March, there are nearly 3,800 restaurants globally and over 130,000 employees.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., is a fast casual restaurant that specializes in bowls, tacos and burritos.
RiverGate Shopping Center
RiverGate is located near Lake Wylie and the Catawba River. It is home to restaurants, retail and lifestyle stores.
Other restaurants in RiverGate include Buffalo Wild Wings, The Casual Pint, Chick-Fil-A, Cold Stone Creamery and Yogurt Bar, Hook & Reel, Fuji Steakhouse and Sushi, McDonalds, Smoothie King, Penn Station East Coast Subs and The Wine Shop at RiverGate.
This story was originally published July 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
