Potbelly Corp.

Potbelly Corp. restaurants offer a sandwich shop menu in an old-timey antique shop atmosphere.

The Chicago-based fast-casual sandwich shop’s atmosphere goes back to its beginnings in 1977 in the Lincoln Park, Chicago neighborhood antique shop owned by Peter Hastings and his wife.

That antique shop turned into the neighborhood lunchtime getaway and grew lines of waiting customers. The menu now includes toasted sandwiches, soups, salads, shakes, cookies and other items.

Potbelly also claims title to “World’s Largest Collector of Antique Stoves” with a potbelly stove as part of the signature decor.

Potbelly’s stock began trading on the Nasdaq exchange on Oct. 14, 2013, when it had 288 shops in eight states and the District of Columbia.

As of 2021, Potbelly had more than 400 company-owned shops and more than 40 franchised locations in the United States.

Key data: Potbelly

Headquarters: Chicago

Segment: Fast Casual

Restaurant Segment: LSR Sandwich/Deli

Number of Locations: 449

2020 Sales: $434,885,000

Annual Growth

Source: Datassential Firefly 500

CEO: Bob Wright