CAVA plans to open its first Surprise restaurant Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Asante Trails in the fast-growing 163rd Avenue corridor.
The Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant will be at 23350 N. 163rd Ave., Suite 120, near Pat Tillman Boulevard in north Surprise. The company told What Now Phoenix that the restaurant’s regular hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
For nearby residents, the scheduled opening would move another long-tracked Asante Trails tenant from construction to operation. It would also add a restaurant option to a part of Surprise where housing has grown faster than retail and dining.
Two preopening Community Days
Before the public opening, a CAVA-hosted Eventbrite listing advertises Community Day meal sessions Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 28 and 29. The listing says registered guests may receive one bowl or pita at no charge during selected time windows.
CAVA is accepting donations during the events for St. Mary’s Food Bank and says it will match donations up to $1,000. The listing directs guests to reserve a time slot and bring a digital ticket. Availability can change as sessions fill.
The company said the Surprise restaurant is expected to employ 25 to 40 people. Its menu centers on customizable bowls, salads and pitas with items such as hummus, falafel, grilled meats, vegetables and dressings.
The city permit dates to May
Surprise records provide an independent construction milestone. The city’s May 2026 permits-issued report lists a tenant-improvement permit for CAVA at 23350 N. 163rd Ave. The permit, number 2026000310, was issued May 8 for the Asante development.
A tenant-improvement permit authorizes work inside a commercial space. It did not establish an opening date by itself. The Sept. 30 date is the later operational milestone announced by the restaurant.
CAVA’s current Arizona locations page lists restaurants in Chandler, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson. The Surprise restaurant would extend the chain farther into the northwest Valley and give the city its first location.
Part of the Asante Trails buildout
Asante Trails is the mixed-use commercial project at 163rd Avenue and Pat Tillman Boulevard. The center has been moving through a combination of construction permits, tenant improvements and separate city reviews rather than opening all at once.
West Valley Post’s Asante Trails development guide follows the center’s tenant roster and separates announced or permitted businesses from locations that have opened. The broader 163rd Avenue Development Tracker covers nearby commercial, road, healthcare and public-safety projects.
CAVA’s scheduled opening is a practical milestone for the center, while other major tenants remain at different stages. City and leasing records have also identified Sprouts, EōS Fitness, Chase Bank, Farmer Boys and additional restaurant and service users in the project.
Opening schedules can change. West Valley Post will update this story if CAVA or the City of Surprise announces a material change before Sept. 30.
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