Native Foods Café to Open First East Coast Location

On September 30, vegan fast-casual restaurant Native Foods Café will open its first East Coast eatery in the heart of Washington, DC. Opening at 1150 Connecticut Avenue in the Dupont neighborhood, Native Foods is known for artisan, plant-based fare like bowls, burgers, wraps, tacos, and specialty salads. The Chicago-based restaurant group plans to open a second location in DC later this year, and has already signed two additional leases in Northern Virginia. According to brand and communications manager, Lauren Neuschel, “Our owners are passionate about DC. … If we’re going to make vegan food national, why not be in the nation’s capital?” In May, the company received a $15 million investment from two private equity firms, which is fueling plans to have 200 locations nationwide by 2019.