Potbelly sandwiches are born!
Potbelly started in 1977 when a little antique store on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago started selling toasted sandwiches (right along with vintage stoves, old books and other knick knacks) to boost business. The same care and attention used to select our antiques went into the recipes and menu preparation. Meats and cheeses were sliced in the store every day. The bread finished its baking as the sandwich came out of the oven, making it perfectly toasted on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. Fresh, crisp vegetables and condiments topped them for a tasty sandwich like no other. And folks could add an old-fashioned, real ice cream milkshake that was hand dipped especially for them. We still do things exactly the same way today. For over 30 years we have maintained this distinctive homemade quality and pride in our food that made our first store on Lincoln Avenue a local favorite.
As you would expect, our passion for great food helped us develop a huge following of loyal Potbelly fans. Sandwiches like "A Wreck" made with Black Angus roast beef, old world salami, oven roasted turkey breast, hickory smoked ham and melted Swiss Cheese, have put an end to the antiques part of the business (although all our stores still have a bunch of antiques around and books to read). The chicken salad in our Chicken Salad Sandwich is handmade every day. Our Italian Sandwich has four Italian meats - authentic capicola, mortadella, salami, and pepperoni. The meatballs in our Meatball Sandwich are covered with rich marinara sauce and provolone. It's straight forward, great tasting, wholesome, comfort food.
But we have more than just great sandwiches. Our made-to-order
Salads include the same Potbelly meats and cheeses as our sandwiches, along with other fresh salad-y ingredients like roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, crumbled blue cheese, chopped egg, and homemade croutons all on crisp romaine lettuce. All of our soups are loaded with vegetables and other tasty stuff. And the Chili is super-meaty - just like Mom's.
We are also famous for our sweets like cookies baked fresh throughout the day. We take the time to make sure that each hand dipped milkshake, malt, and smoothie comes with a cute little butter cookie on the straw. Our ice cream sandwiches don't come out of a wrapper, but are made right before your eyes by layering real ice cream between two of our outrageous Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Our beverage cooler holds some of the usual favorites plus other fun, hard-to-find drinks that you won't see everywhere. We truly appreciate every customer who comes in to visit us. We recognize that everyone is an individual with unique tastes, likes, and eating styles - including a desire to eat well.
click here to see some options
At Potbelly, you get the chance to create the sandwich or other item the way you want to have it. You can get the bread cut "skinny" (less bread – we cut out the middle) leave off the mayo, or load up on lettuce, or tomatoes, or sliced pickle, or our unique Potbelly Hot Peppers…it is up to you. The choices are endless. We don't start making your food until you place your order…so you can let your mood determine what you order.
From their very first visit customers are often hooked (some have even been known to experience intense cravings the very next day). It doesn't take long before Potbelly fans have a favorite sandwich or salad they refer to thereafter as "My Potbelly".