Potbelly Sandwich Shop announced today it has signed an agreement to bring a new shop to Nashville, Tennessee. Slated to open in late summer, the 2,000 square foot shop will be located in the MarketStreet Enterprises’ Gulch Crossing building at 220 11th Ave. South. The widely acclaimed neighborhood hangout is known for its signature toasted sandwiches, hand-dipped milkshakes, and live, local music.
Chris Maples, the new sandwich shop’s owner, is a Cookeville, Tennessee, native who spent seven years living in Chicago enjoying the original Potbelly Sandwich Shop on Lincoln Avenue.
“Nashville has been starving for a Potbelly,” Maples says. “I’m thrilled to share Potbelly’s mouthwatering sandwiches and shakes with the community. I can’t describe how excited people are when I tell them they finally get to experience their favorite sandwich right here in town.”
Maples will manage the sandwich shop’s day-to-day operations, including handling new staff recruitment and booking local musicians when the Nashville location opens this summer.
“Potbelly has an old-school charm mixed with a eclectic new-school vibe that people also use to describe Nashville,” Maples adds. “When you combine those aspects with food that has a cult following and live music, Nashville seems like a perfect fit.”
Maples’ first Potbelly Sandwich Shop, which he is opening with the help of local real estate agent Mike Baggett of Colliers International, will be easily accessible from downtown and Midtown. The restaurant’s operation and delivery hours will be announced at a later date.
“Potbelly is very careful about the owners and operators who franchise with us. It’s important that our brand is associated with people who have an entrepreneurial mindset and are connected to their communities. Chris is a perfect match for the Potbelly family,” says Rick Fossali, senior director of domestic franchising for Potbelly Sandwich Shop. “Every new sandwich shopis designed to resemble the community it resides in, and Chris’ plans to mix Potbelly’s signature décor with Nashville’s old school feel is going to be a hit.”
Potbelly Sandwich Shop first opened in Chicago in 1977, and now includes more than 300 shops across the United States. There are also 20-plus franchise shops in the United States and abroad, and the company is projectingmore franchised shops to open in 2015.
