Cava Grill, the homegrown chain known for healthful food made with simple ingredients, has its sights set on more locations in the DC area and beyond.

The company is fresh off the opening of its newest location in Alexandria, VA, today, and recently opened its second West Coast location in Los Angeles. This summer, Cava Grill will be opening its first New York City location in Union Square, and the company has several DC-area stores in the pipeline.

Cava Grill CEO Brett Schulman shared some thoughts on the company’s future plans.

“For the next 18 months we're focusing on the metro areas of DC, NYC and LA, including the urban center and suburbs,” Brett said. Last year, Cava Grill received $61M in financing, which it has invested in expansion to new markets, new technology and supply chain improvements.

When scouting new locations, Cava Grill looks for 2k to 2,500 SF spots in both urban centers and suburbs. Additional area locations are on the way in Columbia, MD, Sterling, VA, and McLean, VA, and the company has its sights set on opening a third Los Angeles area location by the end of the year.

The homegrown chain was started by Ike Grigoropoulos, Ted Xenochristos and chef Dimitri Moshovitis, three childhood friends who shared a love of traditional Greek and Mediterranean cooking. The restaurants feature a modern setting, and offer a wide range of customizable and seasonal items on the menu.