Florida-Based Vegan Chain Opens Fifth Location; Plans to Open 100 Nationwide

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Compassionate cuisine is making its way across the state of Florida, thanks to Choices Cafe. The organic, award-winning vegan chain just opened its fifth location in the Sunshine State — and that’s just the beginning.

Known for mouthwatering eats that appeal to omnivores and herbivores alike, Choices now has eateries in both Dade and Broward counties, four in Miami and one in Weston.

“Our mission is to inspire compassionate choices by serving food that is made with love for people, for animals, and for the planet,”says Lori Zito, Choices president. “We believe there is a gentler, kinder way of life. And by giving people the opportunity to choose plant-based food, we can help cultivate change with every meal we serve.” Profit isn’t the company’s main goal — love is.

The spots each offer fresh smoothies, colorful bowls, cold-pressed juices, hearty salads, and crowd-pleasing specials like chipotle nachos, the La Pixsa pizza, mac n’ cheese, baked goods — and pancakes, tofu scrambles, and soy-sage patties for breakfast. The Choices Cafe concept originated five years ago, founded by brothers Alex and Jorge Cuevas as a way to promote a compassionate, sustainable lifestyle.

In the long term, the team plans to have 100 locations across the country. In the short term, they’ll continue to expand across Florida.

“Our first out of state leap could be anywhere,” says Zito. “We prefer to allow the universe to guide us on this journey, and we are open to any opportunities that are presented to us. Regardless of the trajectory of how we get there, we trust we will reach our goal.”

Miami isn’t the city it once was when it comes to vegan eats. The area has evolved since Choices first took root. The region is now home to Seed Food & Wine Festival, a Matthew Kenney restaurant, and lots of other notable plant-based options.

vegan-chain“Since we opened our first location in 2011, we have seen significant changes in South Florida,” Zito says. “Mainstream grocery stores that didn’t even carry almond milk four years ago now boast plant-based ‘meats’, dairy-free ice creams, and a wide selection of non-dairy milk alternatives. In just the past few years, asking for things like vegan cheese at non-vegan restaurants no longer elicit a look of confusion, and many new plant-based restaurants have come onto the scene.”

As the first all-vegan eatery in Miami, Choices has been a key leader in the region’s plant-based movement.

“We’d like to believe that we’ve played some part in this rise of consciousness. And we are hopeful that this movement is only at its infancy, and will continue to grow and gain momentum. We are beyond grateful for all who have supported Choices and our mission so far. We currently are building our foundation, and we dare to dream big. We acknowledge the suffering that is occurring in our world today, and we are way too stubborn to let it continue.”

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Hannah Sentenac

Hannah Sentenac

A wizard of words, lover of all living things and vegan mac 'n cheese master, Hannah is the vegan girl behind bharmless.com. Her writing has appeared in Live Happy magazine, the Miami New Times, OneGreenPlanet.com, MindBodyGreen.com, FoodRevolution.org and numerous other publications and websites. She's obsessed with vegan pizza and crop tops, the holidays, and all things Los Angeles. You can reach Hannah directly at hannah@bharmless.com.

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71 Responses

  1. Avatar Cindy says:

    We’d love to have Choices in Portland, Oregon!

  2. Avatar Sue says:

    We’d love to have Choices in Seattle, WA!

  3. Perhaps our own Asheville would be a slam-dunk for them, too!!

  4. Avatar Alan Kellerman says:

    Cindy March 28, 2016 at 1:02 pm
    We’d love to have Choices in Portland, Oregon!

    Sue March 28, 2016 at 1:49 pm
    We’d love to have Choices in Seattle, WA!

    Cindy & Sue. Portland and Seattle have cornered the market on vegan restaurants. Please share with the rest of us.
    Signed, Hungry in Maryland.

  5. Avatar Rebecca davis says:

    Please, please open in Vancouver WA!!! Eastside

  6. Avatar cathy berger says:

    I am a vegan. How about opening a store in Lake Worth.?I will work with you.

  7. Avatar Lynn Risor says:

    Please open one in Gainesville!!! We have the clientele!!!

  8. Avatar Kat says:

    Amarillo, TX please!

  9. Avatar Dave says:

    Please consider Sacramento!

  10. Avatar Staci says:

    St. Petersburg, Fl please!!!!

  11. Avatar Brittney says:

    Green Bay, Wisconsin 🙂

  12. Avatar Pam says:

    Come to Chicago!!

  13. Avatar Jessica says:

    Minnesota please! I don’t even care which city, I’ll drive!

  14. We need Choices location in Palm Beach County! WPB-Delray-Boynton-Boca 🙂

  15. Avatar caren grey says:

    Pensacola Florida – please !

  16. Avatar Cynthia says:

    Chattanooga, Tn please!

  17. Avatar Charlie Fillipucci-Arnett says:

    Please come to Jacksonville, FL! We need more vegan options

  18. Avatar maureen says:

    Pleeeeeeesssse open one in Johnson City, Tennessee

  19. Avatar Amanda says:

    Tampa, FL Pleeeaaassssse!!

  20. Avatar Tim Sherwood says:

    PLEASE come to the Inland Empire, Southern California!!!!

  21. Avatar Tanya W says:

    Come to SC! Surprisingly there’s a huge veg community here!

  22. Avatar J says:

    Come to CORAL SPRINGS!!!! Huge vegan community we have whole foods, Tunies and Luckys. They are here in Coral Springs because of the high demand for healthy eating . We truly need a restaurant like Choices!

  23. Avatar Melissa Louckes says:

    Jacksonville needs you!!!!!!!

  24. Avatar Sooshie says:

    Naples.
    We have vegans and a lot of money!!!!!

  25. Avatar Lisa Page says:

    Please Good God , come to Knoxville, Tn !!!
    We are desperate for even ONE all vegan restaurant and I can PROMISE you the house will always be packed !!!!

  26. Avatar Lisa Page says:

    Bye the way ….we are now home to Dudley the famous little steer here at The Gentle Barn Tennessee….let us hook you up !!!!!

  27. Avatar Atul Doshi says:

    very good news..

  28. Avatar QUAN says:

    COME TO THE GREAT NEW YORK CITY!!!!! 🙂 Such an amazing vegan community here!

  29. Avatar bill says:

    Ditto on coming to Gainesville.

  30. Avatar Mary says:

    Awesome! Please, come to Annapolis, MD!

  31. Avatar Kristie Crews says:

    Please come to Fort Myers! There is a large vegan community here to support you!

  32. Avatar Patricia says:

    Please come to Panama City Florida

  33. Avatar Sue says:

    I second Staci. Come to St Pete!

  34. Avatar Barbara says:

    Melbourne, FL – PLEASE!!

  35. Avatar Triah says:

    Add BREVARD county please!

  36. Avatar Linda says:

    Ogden Utah needs you.

  37. Avatar Tina Turner says:

    please, please, PLEASE come to Daytona Beach! 🙂

  38. Avatar Gregg says:

    Tallahassee! We need you in the state capitol – lots of veg folks here looking for more options.

  39. Avatar Marie says:

    Please come to Tampa, Fl.

  40. Avatar Cred says:

    Tennessee needs more vegan options! Nashville please!

  41. Avatar Alice says:

    Sarasota, Fl, please?

  42. Avatar Terry says:

    Please let me know if you come to Orange County, CA

  43. Avatar Vandy says:

    Please come to Tampa. I know lots of Vegans including myself and family who would love a place to relax and enjoy a great meal.

  44. Avatar Shawn Dworkin says:

    Please come to Holiday Florida

  45. So YUMMMM…. WE are waking up and choosing love? And, how much yummier will it become than this?! Try some NutBurgers, available at Publix…. Let’s get them on the menu?

  46. Avatar Camille says:

    Wow. We plan on doing the same thing. We are opening our 3rd location in November. We are in Daytona Beach area and have an organic juice bar and Caribbean Vegan food cafe called, Kale Cafe. We have been to Choices. Happy for them. Yes Veganism is the New ? Order!!! Lets bring it yall. Florida will become America’s most vegan friendly state. Who knew.

  47. SARASOTA IS CALLING YOU!
    We’ve got a very enlightened little city over here (for Florida) — and are definitely on the lookout for good vegan options!

  48. Avatar Jonathan Rogan says:

    Come on down to LA, sunny SoCal loves vegan! Think big, we have way more people than those B cities- Good vegan places are still hard to find- Do you need an area developer?

  49. Avatar Amy Cowan says:

    PLEASE open in Dallas!

  50. Avatar Debbie says:

    Huntington, Long Island, in NY! Please!

  51. Avatar Lisa says:

    Please come to Marin County, California. For a liberal county we have hardly any vegan choices.

  52. Avatar Marian Dorn says:

    Grand Junction Colorado !

  53. Avatar Jess says:

    Hopefully Orlando or Tampa!

  54. Avatar Melissa says:

    Daytona Beach is getting a Hard Rock Cafe soon! Your restaurant would do Soooo well there ! I would eat there everyday ! Cross My Heart !❤️?❤️

  55. Avatar Heather says:

    We NEED one on the west coast!!!! Naples/Fort Myers!!! Pretty please!!!!!!

  56. Avatar Janet says:

    Come to Naples Please??

  57. Avatar Karen Call says:

    Please come to Gainesville, TX or Denton, TX, please! We have a large Vegan following with the UNT all Vegan dining hall. Thank you!

  58. Avatar Wanda says:

    Cincinnati,OH needs you

  59. Avatar Barbara Bingnear says:

    Melbourne, Florida please! We need you!

  60. Avatar veni kodali says:

    Please come to Austin TX .

  61. Avatar Julie says:

    Anchorage, Alaska please we desperately need a 100% Vegan restaurant, thank you!

  62. Avatar Joan Garfinkel says:

    Altamonte Springs FL would love you. Big SDA community there full of Vegans! We NEED you!

  63. Avatar David Scholtes says:

    all these other cities want Choices, but Pensacola is the best choice for
    Choices!! Floridas oldest city is exploding with growth and needs a good Vegan eatery. Home to the Blue Angels, and close by,the best beaches in the country.

  1. March 30, 2016

    […] Written by Hannah Sentenac for Latest Veg News […]

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