At the second LYFE Kitchen grand-opening celebration on Friday, March 8, 2013, CEO Mike Roberts announced aggressive Southern California growth plans.
In addition to the Culver City, California, restaurant opening, the transformational "lyfestyle" brand will be opening restaurants this year in Tarzana and West Hollywood, California, with several additional locations in the pipeline.
Roberts also announced to more than 100 new LYFE Kitchen restaurant employees and event guests—including community leaders, ambassadors, shareholders, and charitable partner Culver City Education Foundation—that LYFE Kitchen's first franchise agreement will be with Carey Cooper, who will expand the concept in Chicago.
The brand is actively seeking additional corporate locations in Northern California and outstanding locations and talented franchisees nationwide, with a focus on Denver; New York City; Austin, Texas; Boston, and Washington, D.C.
"We look forward to strengthening our roots here in Southern California and expanding to new regions," Roberts said. "From the moment each location is selected until well after the first fork is raised, LYFE immerses itself in the local community and establishes strong relationships with suppliers, local community leaders, and charitable groups."
LYFE Kitchen's local growers and vendors assist in providing customers with fresh, high-quality food, while mitigating the overall environmental footprint.
Following the grand-opening event, LYFE Kitchen donated remaining produce to local charity Chefs to End Hunger.
The menu includes brussels sprouts from Weiser Family Farms, berries from Thorne Family Farm, organic greens from Kenter Canyon Farms, grass-fed beef from Hearst Ranch, and biodynamic wine on tap from Beckmen vineyards in Santa Barbara, California.
LYFE Kitchen's chefs, Art Smith and Tal Ronnen, and executive chef Jeremy Bringardner develop an expansive variety of thoughtful recipes that include traditional favorites, as well an extensive list of plant-based dishes.
LYFE Kitchen standards require that all dishes contain fewer than 600 calories and 1,000 mg of sodium, with most containing much less.
The ambiance of the restaurant aims to appeal to all five consumer senses, making LYFE Kitchen a respite from active daily life. The “sixth sense” is its commitment to the highest standards in environmental responsibility.
From sustainable building materials; patio furniture made of recycled milk and juice cartons; bamboo tables; and salvaged Sequoia wood community table, LYFE Kitchen seeks to model and inspire environmentally responsible practices.
Working closely with sustainable builders Shangri-La Construction, all new LYFE Kitchen locations—beginning with Tarzana and West Hollywood—will be certified Platinum under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Rating System.
A hallmark LYFE Kitchen element, the herb wall represents flavorful herbs and spices found in its meals.
As an indication of its commitment to the core message of sustainability, LYFE Kitchen Culver City partnered with Harvest to Home to install a hydroponic wall that grows more than 60,000 micro greens, including arugula, red Russian kale, and bok choy.
LYFE Kitchen Culver City offers bicycle deliveries, catering, and online ordering to take the food from LYFE's kitchen directly to its customers.
LYFE Kitchen's retail products are available at Ralph's and Gelson's in Southern California and nationally through Amazon and Home Shopping Network.
