The Chain Gang

Art Smith’s LYFE Kitchen Breaks Ground in Palo Alto

We announced back in February that celebrity chef Art Smith’s new fast-casual, health conscious chain called LYFE Kitchen would be opening its flagship location this summer in Palo Alto, CA. Now the project, on which he’s partnered with two former McDonald’s executives as well as vegan chef Tal Ronnen (most famous for feeding Oprah during that week she went vegan), is breaking ground next week at 167 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto. As we discussed, the name of this new chain is a somewhat unfortunate acronym (Love Your Food Everyday), but it does sound like a winner of a concept if they succeed in translating great fast-food flavor into under-600-calorie meals. Look for this first LYFE Kitchen to open in a couple of months, and for more test locations to pop up thereafter around Northern California before the brand ultimately expands to 250 spots nationwide. [Grub Street, Earlier]

Art Smith’s LYFE Kitchen Breaks Ground in Palo Alto