Fresh Choice was a chain of buffet-style restaurants which operated in California, Washington, and Texas under the names Fresh Choice, Fresh Plus, Fresh Choice Express, and Zoopa.
History
The first restaurant was opened in Sunnyvale, California, on El Camino Real in the Cala Shopping center[1] in the space that was once Calaway's Bar and Grill by Martin Culver, Brad Wells, and Ken Oppeltz in 1986. Opening the first restaurant for under $140,000 using funds from Martin Culver's home equity line of credit, a cash investment from Brad Wells, and the restaurant background of Ken Oppeltz, the restaurant was an immediate success. The lines out the door prompted the trio to quickly search for a second location, which opened in the Moffett Business Park. Shortly thereafter, the group was approached by a venture capital group, raised several rounds of financing for expansion, and expanded by opening in the Stanford Shopping Center and Valley Fair Shopping Center, both former restaurant locations. Over a few years, Fresh Choice expanded to over 50 locations in California, Texas, and Washington.
Fresh Choice marketed itself as a healthier alternative to fast food restaurants with reference to menu options that include choices relatively low in fat, carbohydrates, and/or calories. All restaurants featured 50 foot salad bars, six freshly made soups daily, artisan pizza, and breads.
Fresh Choice obtained its produce from local farmers and tried to use seasonal, local, and organically grown produce. In 2009, the company embarked on a plan to grow many of its own vegetables.