Cava will open on I Street this spring in the former Roti space, officials announced Monday.
Karen Zinn, the associate vice president for the office of real estate, said at a University Campus Plan Advisory Committee meeting Monday that Cava, a fast-casual Mediterranean spot known for its customizable meals, is slated to fill the space on the corner of 22nd and I Streets. Roti, the building’s former tenant, closed last semester, leaving its lease early because the business was struggling, Zinn previously said.
“We are under a lease with Cava,” Zinn said at the meeting. “We expect Cava to be open in the spring, and we hope to get some really nice signage up there soon.”
In 2023, officials bought the Residences on The Ave — an apartment complex that houses the space formerly occupied by Roti, Whole Foods and Sweetgreen — after selling a lease to the land more than 15 years ago.
Officials did not say whether Cava will accept GWorld payments or dining dollars. Roti accepted dining dollars but did not offer meal swipe options, unlike the on-campus Panda Express and Chick-fil-A.
“Cava does intend to open next year in the Foggy Bottom area, but we aren’t able to confirm any other specifics or a time frame at this point,” a Cava spokesperson said in an email.
At the meeting, officials also announced plans to collect community feedback in relation to the 2027 campus plan. Here are some of the meeting’s highlights:
Outreach for 2027 campus plan underway
Adam Aaronson, the assistant vice president of construction management and campus planning, said officials will consider criteria like student enrollment metrics, proposed campus development, campus character, student housing, quality of life and transportation and parking issues when crafting the 2027 campus plan.
GW formed the current campus plan — which outlined campus construction plans for the past 20 years — in 2007, but it is set to expire at the end of 2026.
Aaronson said officials plan to meet with neighbors and student organization leaders and host town halls to solicit feedback on the plan.
“We want to start those conversations tonight and hopefully have some conversations about how we can continue to get community feedback as we develop the campus plan,” Aaronson said.
The website dedicated to the 2027 Campus Plan explains the planning process, options for community engagement and ways to get involved. The site also allows stakeholders to fill out a survey with input and includes an interactive survey map where community members can detail how they use campus spaces and what they want to see in the next campus plan.
Officials will gather input about proposed campus construction plans from the GW community and adjacent neighborhoods through an online survey, the creation of advisory committees, a website and a string of public meetings, according to a University release.
Using a framework from conversations that began this summer with members of the Student Government Association and Residence Hall Association, officials will host student listening sessions and informational tabling between Oct. 6 and Oct. 8, according to the release. Officials said they also plan to engage with each school and department and hear from alumni and parents during Alumni and Families Weekend, per the release.
Officials said they will share updates at CPAC meetings and with local leaders at the Foggy Bottom Association, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2A and the West End Citizens Association.
“From where new buildings can be built to how outdoor campus spaces look, to how GW fulfills its many commitments to the D.C. government and local neighborhoods, to the types of classrooms and residence halls we construct, and to how we achieve the many academic and research aspirations detailed in our new strategic framework,” said Baxter Goodly, vice president for safety and operations, in the release.
Aaronson added that the website will also list past and upcoming meeting dates.
Tyler Patrick, campus planner from Sasaki, the urban planning company selected to help with the 2027 campus plan, said the company reviewed University data over the summer. As the fall semester begins, officials are gearing up for the “broad outreach” phase of the campus plan, which will extend through the fall, he said.
“We’re going to work to establish some formats in the future where we can actually create a meaningful dialogue, opportunities to really listen, do listening sessions and hear from you what some of your community priorities are,” Patrick said.
Patrick said the formal adoption process for the campus plan is slated to begin in Summer 2026.
Brito greets community
GW Police Department Chief Victor Brito joined the meeting Monday, introducing himself to the community after he assumed the job on Aug. 4.
Brito took the reins of the department following a nationwide search after former chief James Tate resigned amid high staff turnover, reports from former officers of firearms policy violations and lackluster training during the University’s controversial arming rollout — all of which was largely confirmed by a third-party investigation months later.
Brito previously served on the Metropolitan Police Department force, as an adjunct professor at American University and as Chief of Police in Hagerstown and Rockville, Maryland.
“Keeping our campus safe and resilient is our number one priority,” Brito said at the meeting. “I’m looking forward to serving everyone in our campus community.”
Ella Mitchell contributed to reporting.
