Two national restaurant chains that have yet to establish a foothold in the city could soon be coming to Grove Street as part of a proposed new commercial development.
Plans submitted to the Worcester Planning Board identify fast-casual Mediterranean chain CAVA as a tenant in a proposed development at 278 Grove St., while developer Stonegate Group has also announced that breakfast and brunch chain First Watch is slated to join the project.
The proposal is scheduled to return to the Planning Board on Wednesday, July 15, after consideration was postponed from the board’s June 24 meeting.
New materials filed with the city this week indicate that plans for the development are continuing to move forward. Revised site plans and an updated traffic impact memo were added to the project’s Planning Board file on Wednesday, July 9, according to city records.
The project covers properties at 278 Grove St., 4 Brookfield St. and 4 Powers Court. The developer is seeking Planning Board approval of a definitive site plan as well as approval related to improvements to a private street.
Architectural plans filed with the city specifically identify CAVA as part of the new construction.
CAVA, founded in Maryland and headquartered in Washington, D.C., specializes in customizable Mediterranean-inspired bowls and pita wraps, with menu options including grains, greens, grilled meats, falafel, hummus and other dips, toppings and dressings.
The proposed Worcester location comes amid a period of rapid growth for the publicly traded company. CAVA reported surpassing $1 billion in annual revenue for the first time in 2025 and opening 72 net new restaurants nationwide during the year, according to a company announcement issued in June.
First Watch is a Florida-based restaurant chain specializing in breakfast, brunch and lunch. Its menu includes omelets, pancakes, avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches, salads and other daytime fare.
Neither chain currently operates a restaurant in Worcester.
Stonegate Group has publicly announced both restaurants as future tenants in the development.
“Introducing two new dining options to the community, we hope Worcester is just as excited about CAVA and First Watch as we are!” the developer said in its announcement.
The proposal has generated an extensive public filing with the city that includes architectural plans, a traffic assessment, drainage information, an impact statement and multiple versions of the site plan. The project file also includes public comment submitted ahead of the originally scheduled June 24 Planning Board review.
The July 15 meeting gives the planning board an opportunity to review the development plans and hear discussion of the proposal.
