Interpretation submission 73026

PARKER MIDDLETON parker.middleton@cava.com July 20, 2026 Ms. Genice Gary-Adams Zoning Official Township of West Orange 66 Main Street West Orange, NJ 07052 RE: Zoning Board Approval Request Township of West Orange, NJ Existing Zone P-C, Planned Commercial Dear Ms. Gary-Adams, I am writing on behalf of CAVA Mezze Grill, LLC (“CAVA”) in connection with its proposed lease and operation of a CAVA restaurant at 235 Prospect Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052 (the “Property”). CAVA respectfully requests a determination that the proposed use is a “Restaurant,” not a “Fast Food Restaurant,” under Section 25-4 of Ordinance No. 2436-15 § 2; Ordinance. No. 2357-12 § 25-4 of the Township of West Orange, New Jersey Zoning Code (the “Code”). This request is based on the actual, site-specific operating plan described below, including the location's dine-in focus, made-to-order food preparation, emphasis on fresh ingredients, and accessory take-out component. The Code defines “Fast Food Restaurant” to “mean the retail sale of ready-to-eat foods and beverages for on and/or off premises consumption, whenever the foods and beverages are available upon a short waiting time, and orders are placed by the customer at a counter, and primarily served in or on disposable wrappers, containers or plates, and where there is a seating capacity of more than 15 individuals. This does not include restaurants which have ‘take-out’ as accessory to a traditional restaurant.” To be sure, the Fast Food Restaurant definition is conjunctive: it links multiple operational elements with the word “and,” and it expressly excludes a restaurant whose take-out business is accessory to a traditional restaurant. The proposed CAVA does not satisfy all of these elements, and indeed, its take-out business is accessory. Accordingly, the proposed use falls within the Code's “Restaurant” definition 1 only. I. EXPLANATION OF PROPOSED CAVA CONCEPT AND OPERATIONS A. Menu and Culinary Program CAVA is a Mediterranean restaurant concept centered on complete meals rather than standardized, pre- wrapped food. Its menu includes fresh, chef-curated meals and build-your-own bowls and pitas. A guest typically selects a greens and/or grains base, one or more dips or

rather than standardized, pre- wrapped food. Its menu includes fresh, chef-curated meals and build-your-own bowls and pitas. A guest typically selects a greens and/or grains base, one or more dips or spreads, a protein, vegetables and other toppings, and a dressing sauce. The proposed location will offer more than 38 ingredients, allowing more 1 “Restaurant” is defined under the Code to “mean a public establishment which serves food and drink primarily or exclusively for consumption on the premises and is not a 'fast food restaurant' as defined in this chapter. For the purposes of this chapter, a 'bar' shall also be deemed a 'restaurant' only if food is prepared, served and consumed on the premises."