Potbelly Sandwich Shop announced that it will open a new franchise location in Durham, North Carolina. It is set to become the brand’s second shop in the Triangle, and the fifth in the state of North Carolina.
The new location will be conveniently situated at 6815 Fayetteville Rd. inside the Renaissance Center. It is directly across the street from South Point Mall, the well-known shopping and entertainment hub in Durham. Franchisees Mohit Kishore and Tulshi Bhakar recently finalized the lease on the shop, and plan to open it in the first quarter of 2020.
“Our fans throughout the Triangle have been vocal about their love for the brand and are eager to see Potbelly expand in the region,” says Kishore, a resident of neighboring Cary. “Since we opened the doors to our first shop in 2017 in nearby Morrisville, the brand has been a hit in the local community and for businesses and their catering needs, and I know the Durham location will carry on the Potbelly tradition.”
Beyond Morrisville and Durham, Kishore and Bhakar plan on opening at least two more shops in Wake and Durham counties as well as Chapel Hill as part of their multi-unit franchise agreement. Well suited for multi-unit franchise ownership and operations, Kishore has more than 20 years of restaurant industry experience.
“Mohit and Tulshi are the perfect fit for growing the Potbelly footprint in the Raleigh-Durham region. They have done an outstanding job engraining the brand into the fabric of the community,” says Peter Ortiz, VP of Franchise Development for Potbelly. “Mohit’s extensive foodservice experience has contributed to the success of the Morrisville location, and we’re excited about building upon that momentum with the Durham shop.”
In addition to the Triangle region, Potbelly is expanding the brand through franchising along the eastern section of the state and down into South Carolina. A recently signed franchise deal includes 13 new shops for cities such as Fayetteville, Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. Potbelly continues to be an attractive franchise investment because of its reputation for having delicious food and a warm, neighborhood atmosphere, thriving within bustling areas like Durham.
As Potbelly expands with skilled franchisees such as Kishore and Bhakar, the brand is awarding franchise opportunities to qualified multi-unit groups who are looking to add another potent concept to their portfolios. Currently, there are more than 450 corporate and franchise Potbelly shops in the United States.
