Welcome to potbelly

How it all began...

Quiet antique store grows into happening sandwich shop.

Potbelly Sandwich Works began in 1977 as a small antique store run by a nice young couple. Despite the fast-paced, never-a-dull-moment world of antique dealing, the couple decided to bolster their business by making sandwiches for their customers. What began as a lark, turned out to be a stroke of genius. Soon, people who couldn't care less about vintage glass doorknobs were stopping by to enjoy special sandwiches and homemade desserts in this unusual atmosphere.

As the years passed, the lines grew. Booths were added, along with ovens for toasting sandwiches to perfection, vista-coolers, napkin dispensers, hand-dipped ice cream - even live music. The little antique shop had become the full-fledged, totally unique sandwich joint that it is today.

TIMELINE

1977 – Founded as a small antique store on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago
1996 – Bryant Keil acquires Potbelly
1997 – Opened second store
1998 – Began Catering Program
2001 – First airport restaurant at Midway (Chicago)
2002 – Opened 10th Store (January).
2002 - D.C.
2003 – Michigan, Wisconsin, Baltimore and Minnesota.
2004 – Dallas
2005 – Winter 2005 Introduced Box O' Sandwiches
2005 – Ohio and Houston
2005 – Nov. 2005 – Opened 100th store & named one of "America's 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies" by Inc. Magazine.
2007 – Austin and Philadelphia
2007 – 8th in Crain's Chicago Business "50 Fastest Growing Companies"
2007 - 30th Anniversary Celebration, Expanded Breakfast, Opened 1st drive-thru.
2008 - Online Ordering Launched
2008 - 200th Store Opens