NEW HAVEN — Sweetgreen, a Los Angeles-based chain that specializes in grain bowls and other healthy food, has opened on a key downtown corner in the Broadway district that has been vacant for more than two years, officials said.
It's Sweetgreen's fifth Connecticut restaurant. The chain opened a Farmington Valley location in Canton in February, after previously opening restaurants in Westport, Darien and Greenwich.
Representatives of Sweetgreen, Yale University Properties and the city celebrated the restaurant's opening Tuesday at the corner of Broadway and York Street.
For every meal purchased Tuesday, Sweetgreen donated a meal to Haven’s Harvest to nourish people in Greater New Haven experiencing food insecurity.
"I think this ... is going to be great for us -- and I think us being here is going to be great for the area,"said Sweetgreen "Head Coach" Armend Mehmeti of Southington, who said his job is equivalent to general manager. The opening came three weeks after Sweetgreen officials began training the staff, he said.
Mehmeti was there along with several other Sweetgreen officials, including Area Leader Melvin Narvaez and Regional Manager Rod Barros.
Barros said the New Haven opening came on the same day the fast-growing chain opened new restaurants in Forest Hills, N.Y. and near Santa Monica, Calif.
The new restaurant features a robot that essentially builds salads to supplement the work of Sweetgreen employees, the restaurant brand’s automated Infinite Kitchen technology.
As with all Sweetgreen locations, every meal served in the restaurant starts and ends with team members’ hands — from the fresh prep in the open kitchen to the finishing touches on each guest’s plate or bowl, officials said.
"I want to thank everyone again. I want to thank the partners," said Alexandra Daum, Yale University's associate vice president for New Haven Affairs and University Properties.
Yale University Properties initiated discussions with Sweetgreen because marketing surveys consistently showed high interest in bringing the brand to The Shops at Yale, Daum said.
“We are delighted to have Sweetgreen join our community with its beautiful restaurant at 1 Broadway, the gateway to the Broadway District,” Daum said. “Our retailers and restaurateurs are passionate about what they do, and we are impressed with Sweetgreen’s commitment to serving fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced food while empowering customers and team members to be a positive force on the food system.”
With more than 250 restaurants across the country since 2007, the brand focuses on sustainability by sourcing local, regenerative and organic ingredients whenever possible. For every meal purchased on June 17, Sweetgreen will donate a meal to Haven’s Harvest to nourish people in Greater New Haven experiencing food insecurity.
Lori Martin, executive director of Haven's Harvest, was on hand for the opening in addition to Mayor Justin Elicker. Haven's Harvests expected to receive 500-600 meals told as a result of its initial association with Sweetgreen, said Project Manager Anissia Garcia.
Martin said Haven's Harvest expects to hit 10 million pounds of food recovered since its inception next week. It recovered 1.8 million pounds last year and has recovered 943,547 pounds so far this year, she said.
“Joining the New Haven community means a lot to us — it’s a place full of energy, history, and heart,” said Jonathan Neman, co-founder and CEO of Sweetgreen. “We’re excited to share our commitment to real food, rooted in seasonality and local sourcing."
Sweetgreen's menu includes salads, warm bowls, protein plates, and sides, including the Harvest Bowl and Crispy Rice Bowl, and protein-packed offerings like Caramelized Garlic Steak and Miso Glazed Salmon. The New Haven restaurant will also feature Sweetgreen’s limited-time KBBQ menu, inspired by Korean barbecue.
It was created in collaboration with the Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse, COTE.
Barros said the New Haven location fits right in with Sweetgreen's marketing plan. Research tells the company that it does best in local financial districts, which is where 70 percent of Sweetgreen's customers come from and where many customers eat at Sweetgreen up to four times a week. The fact that Sweetgreen's food is organic "makes people come back more often," he said.
“Opening Connecticut’s newest Sweetgreen location in our vibrant Broadway District is further evidence that the New Haven retail market is strong and attractive to chains and independent operators alike,” said Daum. “We are thrilled to have Sweetgreen contribute its mindful mission and inspiring offerings to our ‘foodie city.’”