Exclusive: LA fast-casual healthy dining chain chooses Charlotte for expansion
A West Coast fast-healthy restaurant chain will make its Carolina debut in uptown Charlotte as part of its nationwide expansion.
Sweetgreen signed a lease with Crescent Communities for a 2,900-square-foot space at One Independence Center, 101 N. Tryon St., according to the Los Angeles-based restaurant.
Charlotte is ideal for Sweetgreen’s expansion because of its “great food culture, banking business hubs and a growing metro city,” Stephanie Traut, senior vice president of operations for Sweetgreen, told The Charlotte Observer in an exclusive interview. Charlotte is a “young and active” community, she added.
The fast-casual restaurant is expected to open next summer, Traut said.
Sweetgreen joins several new dining options in uptown, including STK Steakhouse, Exotica Indian Kitchen & Bar and Dos Caminos. Monarch Market food hall will open in November on the ground level at One Independence Center.
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Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen has plans to open up to 35 stores nationwide.
What to expect at Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen offers customizable salad and grain bowls, where the price range is typically from $12 to $15.
Traut’s favorite menu item is also Sweetgreen’s most popular: the Harvest Bowl. It includes roasted chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, apples, goat cheese, roasted almonds, wild rice, shredded kale and balsamic vinaigrette.
Sweetgreen also offers five seasonal bowls, based on what’s locally available, plus a children’s menu, sides like roasted sweet potatoes and organic desserts.
On Tuesday, Sweetgreen said it will cook proteins, veggies and grains exclusively in extra virgin olive oil starting Oct. 24.
In Charlotte, Sweetgreen will be open for lunch and dinner with indoor dining, takeout and delivery through third parties. Each store hires about 30 full- and part-time employees.
About Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen is a publicly traded restaurant chain with over 200 stores in 20 states and Washington, D.C., and over 6,000 employees companywide.
In July, the company reported a second-quarter revenue of $152.5 million compared to $124.9 million the same time last year, an increase of 22%. It’s the ninth consecutive quarter of over 20% sales growth year over year, Sweetgreen CEO and co-founder Jonathan Neman said.
Sweetgreen focuses on fresh organic, regenerative and locally-sourced ingredients.
Partnerships with local growers has many benefits, including diversifying the supply chain, reducing freight costs and environmental impact, Traut said. In-store source boards list all the local companies Sweetgreen works with at each store.
“Our mission is to build healthier communities by connecting people to real foods,” Traut said. “We want to reimagine fast-food.”
