ZOES KITCHEN: COMPANY HISTORY TIMELINE

Zoes Kitchen 1995: Inc. was founded in Homewood, Alabama in June 1995. Marcus Cassimus and Zoe Cassimus founded it. The original restaurants were not franchised. Cassimus retained a 51 percent stake in any new locations.

Zoes Kitchen 2001: The first location was opened in October 1995 in Homewood. In 1999, a second location was opened in Hoover’s Riverchase area. A third location was opened in Birmingham in March 2001. In May 2001, the restaurant opened its first location outside of the Birmingham area, in Tuscaloosa. It also opened its first Tennessee store in Nashville in the fall 2001. zoes kitchen was now a chain of sixteen restaurants. Eight were in Alabama, while others are in Phoenix, Nashville and Baton Rouge.

Zoes Kitchen 2006: The first location was@ opened in October 1995 in Homewood. In 1999, a second location was opened in Hoover’s Riverchase area. A third location opened in Birmingham in March 2001. In May 2001, the restaurant opened its first location outside of the Birmingham area, in Tuscaloosa. It also opened its first Tennessee store in Nashville in the fall 2001. zoes kitchen was now a chain of sixteen restaurants. Eight were in Alabama, while others are in Phoenix, Nashville and Baton Rouge.

Zoes Kitchen 2007: Cassimus had 20 stores open in 2007, and sold his majority ownership stake to Brentwood Associates, Los Angeles. Cassimus, who was still the chief executive, announced that the company’s headquarters would remain in Birmingham and the menu would not change. It was also revealed that 200 franchises could be opened in the next five-years following the sale. In spring 2008, GE Capital Solutions loaned $10 million to the company to enable the development of 50 stores in the southeast and southwest.

Zoes Kitchen 2008: Cassimus resigned in November 2008. Greg Dollarhyde took his place as CEO. Baja Fresh’s former CEO, Dollarhyde stated that he was looking to expand the restaurant in new locations with the remaining two-thirds of the company and the rest being franchised.

Zoes Kitchen 2011: Zoes currently has 11 franchised locations and the remainder are company-owned. Miles stated that kitchen interior will consider multi-unit franchisees in future.

Miles stated that the company would remain headquartered in Birmingham, the city where it was founded and the majority of its employees are located. This promise was made in 2011. However, in 2014, the company’s announcement that it would be publicly traded showed its headquarters as Plano (Texas) in SEC filings. The reasons for the move were to simplify travel, a shortage of talent in Birmingham (the talent source that provided the company with its initial growth and development), as well as the necessity to consolidate offices in preparation for an IPO. The move was not known by local media, civic leaders, and business leaders.

Zoes Kitchen 2018: American Airlines announced on September 24, 2018 that Zoe’s Kitchen would be their primary food partner for the Light Snack and Food items served in Main Cabin Seats.

ZOES KITCHEN

Zoes Kitchen, Inc. was founded in Homewood, Alabama in June 1995. Marcus Cassimus and Zoe Cassimus founded it. The original restaurants were not franchised. Cassimus retained a 51 percent stake in any new locations.

The first location was opened in downtown Homewood in October 1995. In 1999, a second location was opened in Hoover’s Riverchase area. A third location was opened in Birmingham in March 2001. In May 2001, the restaurant opened its first location outside of the Birmingham area, in Tuscaloosa. It also opened its first Tennessee store in Nashville in the fall 2001. kitchen tendencies was now a chain of sixteen restaurants. Eight were in Alabama, while others are in Phoenix, Nashville and Baton Rouge.

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Receive news and updates about Zoes Kitchen jobs. Get started. Cassimus had 20 stores open in 2007, and sold his majority ownership stake to Brentwood Associates, Los Angeles. Cassimus, who was still the chief executive, announced that the company’s headquarters would remain in Birmingham and that the menu would not change. It was also revealed that 200 franchises could be opened in the next five-years following the sale. In spring 2008, GE Capital Solutions provided $10 million loan to the company to enable the development of 50 stores in the southeast and southwest.

Cassimus resigned in November 2008. Greg Dollarhyde took his place as CEO. Baja Fresh’s former CEO, Dollarhyde stated that he was looking to expand the restaurant in new locations with the remaining two-thirds of the company and the rest being franchised.

Zoes currently has 11 franchised locations and the remainder are company-owned. Zoes President Kevin Miles stated that kitchen tiles will consider multi-unit franchisees in future.

Zoes launched online ordering and a mobile loyalty program in 2011

Miles stated that the company would remain headquartered in Birmingham, the city where it was founded and the majority of its employees are located. This promise was made in 2011. However, in 2014, the company’s announcement that it would be publicly traded showed its headquarters as Plano (Texas) in SEC filings. The reasons for the move were to simplify travel, a shortage of talent in Birmingham (the talent source that provided the company with its initial growth and development), as well as the necessity to consolidate offices in preparation for an IPO. The move was not known by local media, civic leaders, and business leaders.

Cava Group, Inc. purchased Zoes in August 2018. They paid $12.75 per Zoes common stock. CAVA is a private Mediterranean restaurant chain.

American Airlines announced on September 24, 2018 that Zoe’s Kitchen would be their primary food partner for the Light Snack and Food items served in Main Cabin Seats.

Zoe’s Kitchen was established in Birmingham by Marcus Cassimus and Zoe Cassimus in 1995. It is now celebrating its 20th year anniversary with a campaign called 20 Days of Goodness. Image courtesy Zoe’s Kitchen

Zoe’s Kitchen, which was founded in Homewood by Marcus Cassimus and Zoe Cassimus in 1995, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in Birmingham with a campaign called 20 Days of Goodness. It includes a concert and a charity meal, as well as community-service projects and an urban scavenger hunt.