CAVA is coming to Lakeland.
A site plan for a new CAVA was filed with the City of Lakeland on Nov. 12.
It's for 3437 S. Florida Ave., the old Hooters at the corner of South Florida Avenue and Imperial Boulevard.
The plan is to tear down the old Hooters building and put up a new 7,400-square-foot building. CAVA would share it with Wild Fork, a meat and seafood market.
CAVA is the fast-casual Mediterranean chain known for build-your-own bowls and pitas.
Right now, Polk's only CAVA is in Davenport.
The developer first brought the idea to the city as a concept plan in August.
The site plan is now in the city's review process, with reviews scheduled to wrap up by Dec. 11. That comes before any demolition or building permits.
This corner has seen several plans since Hooters closed in June 2024, including a Murphy USA gas station filed with the city last year.
That Hooters had been there since 1984. Locals say it was the second Hooters ever, after the original in Clearwater.
And if this one sounds familiar: back in June, we told you the CAVA many of you had been asking about near Hobby Lobby on Highway 98 had gone quiet, with no permits and no listing. This is a different spot, and this time there's a plan on file.
No opening date has been announced.
We found this by monitoring the City of Lakeland's public permit portal.
Have a tip about something coming to Polk County? Email us at [email protected]
Sources: City of Lakeland iMS Planning Projects portal (SIT26-053, CPT26-076, SIT25-035), LkldNow, WFTV
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