The Unique Location of 12 American Quick-Informal Eating places [MAP]

On the crossroads of full-service and fast-food eating places lives the fast-casual idea. These eating places typically supply a menu, however most of the time, the inspiration of their enterprise mannequin is customizable meals choices made with contemporary, high-quality elements. As soon as the meals is prepped, shoppers can take it to go in the event that they want, however the environment inside is usually good sufficient that eating in feels extra elevated than it does at a McDonald’s or a Wendy’s.

The fashion of service skyrocketed in reputation in the course of the Nice Recession as diners sought out fast, inexpensive meals choices that have been nonetheless wholesome and contemporary. At this time, fast-casual eating places stay extremely widespread, with the class led by main gamers like Chipotle and Panera Bread. Newer chains are rising quickly, too, with institutions like Sweetgreen and Cava increasing from smaller native operations within the late aughts to chains with lots of of areas throughout the nation in the present day. However the place did every of those fast-casual eating places get their begin?

From Jersey Mike’s and Jimmy John’s to Cava and Sweetgreen, take a look at the unique location of a few of America’s largest fast-casual restaurant chains under!

Jersey Mike’s: Level Nice, New Jersey

This widespread sandwich spot could be known as Jersey Mike’s in the present day, nevertheless it truly received its begin as a restaurant known as Mike’s Subs situated close to the seashore in Level Nice. The first location was opened in 1956 by Mike Ingravallo, and it wasn’t till about 15 years later that it might start to remodel into the multinational chain it’s in the present day. In 1971, Peter Cancro, then a young person, began working at Mike’s Subs to earn some spending cash. When he heard that the homeowners can be promoting the store, he intervened, asking his soccer coach for some monetary help earlier than buying the chain. In 1975 at simply 17 years previous, Cancro turned the only proprietor and proprietor of the restaurant, renaming it Jersey Mike’s a few decade later. Cancro served as CEO of the corporate till April 2025, overseeing its development from a single institution to effectively over 3,000 areas throughout the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Australia.

Jimmy John’s: Charleston, Illinois

The primary Jimmy John’s opened its doorways in 1983 simply blocks away from the Japanese Illinois College campus in Charleston, Unwell. To open the sandwich store, 19-year-old founder Jimmy John Liautaud borrowed $25,000 from his father, a military veteran, who allegedly made him promise to hitch the military if he failed inside a yr. (Spoiler alert: Jimmy John succeeded.) Even if the unique location solely had 4 sandwiches on the menu — The Pepe, Completely Tuna, Turkey Tom, and Vito — shoppers couldn’t get sufficient. Three years later, Liautaud opened a second location in Macomb, Unwell., and in the present day, Jimmy John’s is a bonafide sandwich empire. As of October 2025, the chain has over 2,700 areas throughout the U.S.

Panda Categorical: Glendale, California

Panda Categorical was based in 1983 by Andrew and Peggy Cherng, in addition to Andrew’s father, chef Ming Tsai Cherng. The idea for the now-beloved fast-casual restaurant was developed from the Panda Inn, a full-service restaurant opened by Andrew and his father a decade earlier in Pasadena. From the start, the Cherngs had the objective of manufacturing Chinese language American meals that was able to interesting to a broad client base, and it’s secure to say they succeeded. A number of dishes, just like the Orange Rooster and Chow Mein, have impressed hundreds of copycat recipes on-line. To this present day, the chain stays beneath Cherng household possession and is the most important Asian restaurant chain within the U.S. with over 2,500 areas nationwide.

5 Guys: Arlington, Virginia

Well-known for its greasy smash burgers and overflowing paper luggage of french fries, 5 Guys was based by Janie and Jerry Murrell in Arlington, Va., in 1986. Initially named for Jerry and the couple’s 4 sons (earlier than a fifth son was born), 5 Guys remained a neighborhood chain with simply 5 areas for its first 16 years of operation. In 2003, the corporate allowed for franchising alternatives, which drastically expanded the variety of areas nationwide. In accordance with the corporate, 18 months after franchising started, 5 Guys opened over 300 areas. These days, the menu has grown from simply burgers and fries to incorporate scorching canines, sandwiches, and milkshakes, that are offered at nearly 2,000 areas worldwide.

Panera Bread: St. Louis, Missouri

Panera Bread could be a global chain now, nevertheless it began as a modest, family-owned bakery based by Ken and Linda Rosenthal in 1987. Initially referred to as the St. Louis Bread Firm, the bakery specialised in freshly baked artisanal breads, bagels, and light-weight lunch fare like soups, salads, and sandwiches. By 1993, the St. Louis Bread Firm was working roughly 20 areas throughout Missouri and was acquired by Au Bon Ache Co., which rebranded the chain to Panera Bread. Over the course of the following 5 years, Panera Bread would open 1,000 areas nationwide, providing shoppers from coast to coast a style of its well-known sourdough bread bowls. By 2017, the chain had greater than doubled in dimension. At this time, the chain operates over 2,200 areas, which introduced in over $6 billion in systemwide gross sales final yr.

Chipotle Mexican Grill: Denver, Colorado

It’s onerous to think about a fast-casual restaurant extra widespread than Chipotle Mexican Grill. The chain received its begin in Denver in 1993 when founder Steve Ells opened the primary location simply throughout the road from the College of Denver. Ells, a Culinary Institute of America alum, was impressed by the plethora of taquerias he visited in San Francisco’s Mission District, however Chipotle was by no means meant to be what it’s in the present day. The truth is, Ells truly opened the restaurant with the objective of utilizing it as a “money cow” to launch a fine-dining idea. However Chipotle was just too profitable to desert ship. Two years after opening his first location, Ells opened a second Chipotle, adopted by a 3rd location only a yr later. In 1998, Chipotle obtained a large funding from McDonald’s, which helped the chain develop from simply over a dozen outposts to over 500 by 2005. In January 2006, Chipotle went public, and McDonald’s exited its funding place just a few months later. The dearth of funding from the quick meals chain did nothing to hinder Chipotle’s success, although. At this time, the chain operates nearly 4,000 areas worldwide and has an annual income of over $11 billion.

Qdoba Mexican Eats: Denver, Colorado

Chipotle wasn’t the one Mexican grill to get its begin in Denver. Two years after the primary Chipotle opened, Anthony Miller and Robert Hauser established Qdoba, however at first, its identify appeared just a little completely different than it does in the present day. Based as Zuma Contemporary Mexican Grill, the primary Qdoba opened on the nook of Grant Avenue and sixth Avenue in 1995, although the restaurant’s identify was modified to Z-Teca two years later. It wasn’t till 1999 that the chain can be renamed Qdoba Mexican Grill (a reputation that was modified as soon as extra to Qdoba Mexican Eats in 2015). Whereas the restaurant was profitable in its early days, in 2003, Jack within the Field acquired the Mexican eatery and quickly expanded its presence throughout the U.S. In accordance with the chain, when the acquisition occurred, Qdoba was bringing in roughly $65 million in yearly gross sales from about 80 areas. By the point Jack within the Field offered the Mexican chain in 2018, there have been over 700 areas bringing in a complete of greater than $820 million per yr. At this time, Qdoba is owned by non-public fairness agency Butterfly Fairness and operates greater than 785 areas throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada.

Wingstop: Garland, Texas

Wingstop presently operates nearly 3,000 areas worldwide, however the hen wing eatery began as a humble operation in Garland, Texas, in 1994. Based by Antonio Swad and Bernadette Fiaschetti, the chain initially centered on simply Buffalo-style hen wings, however because the variety of areas expanded, so did the variety of wing choices. By the point the corporate allowed for franchise alternatives in 1997, it already had 90 areas throughout the Lone Star State. Naturally, franchising exponentially elevated Wingstop’s presence throughout the U.S., with rapper Rick Ross even getting in on the motion by buying 25 areas. Along with its authentic Buffalo Scorching, Wingstop serves eight different proprietary flavors together with Delicate, Atomic, Cajun, Teriyaki, Lemon Pepper, Hawaiian Barbeque, Garlic Parmesan, and Hickory Smoked BBQ.

Elevating Cane’s: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The thought for Elevating Cane’s was born in a school classroom. Whereas attending the College of Georgia, eventual founder Todd Graves took a enterprise class throughout which he needed to pitch an concept for a sustainable enterprise. He determined to pitch a hen finger restaurant — and he obtained the bottom grade within the class. Undeterred, he picked up plenty of jobs after graduating to comprehend his dream of working a hen finger store. In 1996, he lastly pulled it off, opening the primary Elevating Cane’s in Baton Rouge when he was simply 24 years previous. And Graves’ professor couldn’t have been extra improper: At this time, Elevating Cane’s has over 900 areas within the U.S. and just lately beat out KFC to turn into the No. 3 hen store within the U.S. Nonetheless on the helm of the corporate is Todd Graves, who serves as founder and CEO.

Moe’s Southwest Grill: Atlanta, Georgia

Two of the most important Mexican-inspired fast-casual eating places received their begin in Colorado, however Moe’s Southwest Grill was based on the other aspect of the nation in Atlanta. Established in December 2000, Moe’s was based by Martin Sprock, who created the restaurant by way of his firm Raving Manufacturers. Whereas the identify Moe’s may lead you to imagine the chain was named after a person, it’s truly an acronym for musicians, outlaws, and entertainers. Moe’s was virtually an on the spot hit, increasing to almost 400 areas throughout the U.S. and Canada by the point the chain was offered to Focus Manufacturers (now referred to as GoTo Meals) in 2007. Moe’s Southwest Grill presently operates 566 eating places throughout North America and just lately celebrated its fourth consecutive yr of development.

Cava: Rockville, Maryland

At this time, Cava is greatest identified for its quick-serve Mediterranean bowls, however the idea truly originated as an unbiased, full-service Greek restaurant known as Cava Mezze. Established in Rockville, Md., in 2006, Cava Mezze was based by three pals — Ted Xenohristos, Dimitri Moshovitis, and Ike Grigoropoulos — who wished to open a restaurant that paid homage to their Greek roots and traditions. The trio operated the restaurant completely on their very own in its early days, with Xenohristos serving meals and drinks, Moshovitis operating the kitchen, and Grigoropoulos dealing with accounting. Surging in reputation and in want of some group, Cava Mezze employed marketing consultant Brett Schulman as CEO, who proposed increasing the idea right into a separate, Greek-inspired fast-casual restaurant. The following yr, the primary Cava opened in Bethesda, Md., serving customized bowls and pita sandwiches to hungry prospects. Cava presently operates simply over 400 areas throughout 29 states, and Cava Mezze has expanded to incorporate a second location in Olney, Md.

Sweetgreen: Washington, D.C.

Sweetgreen is the largest salad chain within the U.S. by each systemwide gross sales and variety of areas, however when it opened, it was working out of a minuscule 560-square-foot shack in Washington, D.C. The restaurant was based in 2007 by Jonathan Neman, Nicolas Jammet, and Nathaniel Ru, three Georgetown graduates who observed an absence of wholesome lunch choices on their college’s campus. Earlier than opening their very own brick and mortar, the three pals typically hosted style exams of potential menu objects with pals in Jammet’s dorm room, with every attendee supplied with an nameless survey to share their ideas. As soon as that they had a menu solidified and funding secured, the trio opened the primary Sweetgreen location just some blocks away from Georgetown’s campus. Inside a yr, they opened two extra areas close by, and by 2013, the chain expanded into East Coast cities like Boston and New York. The beloved salad chain presently has over 900 areas nationwide.

*Picture retrieved from MelissaMN by way of inventory.adobe.com