Potbelly Sandwich Shop is a beloved American fast-casual franchise known for its warm, toasted sandwiches and inviting atmosphere. Founded in 1997 by Peter Hastings in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, Potbelly began as an antique store where Hastings served sandwiches to customers.
The name "Potbelly" pays homage to the potbelly stove that warmed the original shop. The company is headquartered at 111 North Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois, and has grown to over 425 locations nationwide.
In 1996, entrepreneur Bryant Keil acquired Potbelly, sparking a period of rapid growth. The company began franchising in 2009, allowing business owners to bring Potbelly's unique offerings to their local communities.
The franchise serves toasted sandwiches, fresh salads, soups, hand-dipped shakes, and baked goods. Each location is designed to reflect the character of the neighborhood, creating a cozy and welcoming environment.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop provides a comprehensive training program for franchisees to ensure consistent quality and brand standards across locations. The training is mandatory and must be completed before opening the shop. The programs include:
Potbelly Sandwich Shop does not offer exclusive or protected territory rights to its franchisees under the standard Franchise Agreement. Franchisees operate their shop at a specific site approved by Potbelly, but this does not come with any exclusivity in that geographic area.
Potbelly and its affiliates retain the right to operate or authorize other Potbelly locations, or use other distribution channels—including online and retail sales—even in proximity to existing franchises.
Furthermore, the agreement clearly states that the franchisor does not provide any territorial rights such as expansion, non-encroachment, or first refusal unless explicitly outlined in a separate Shop Development Area Agreement.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
All you need to know about this franchise
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Potbelly Sandwich
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