Potbelly Sandwich Works is preparing to roll out a major expansion in the Atlanta area. Last year, the franchise announced a deal with Royal Restaurant Group to bring 15 locations to the market. Now, the first location has been secured in Chamblee at 5001 Peachtree Boulevard, Suite 640, according to reporting by Tomorrow’s News Today Atlanta. The spot will take a 2,000-square-foot space that formerly belonged to a MOD Pizza.
The spot is expected to open next year.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop serves a wide variety of toasted sandwiches, as well as salads, soups, cookies and shakes. Launched in Chicago in 1977, the franchise now has hundreds of locations across the country, with a strong presence in its home state of Illinois. However, the chain has yet to make it to Georgia.
The forthcoming Chamblee location will be operated by Royal Restaurant Group, a company based in West Palm Beach, Fla. CEO Randy Pianin launched the group in 2022 and now operates both Potbelly locations and Burger Kings. In addition to bringing Potbelly to the Atlanta market, the group is expanding Potbelly in Florida and Ohio.
“I’m in Atlanta frequently,” Pianin told What Now Atlanta in a previous interview. “I love the area. It continues to grow. It’s a great environment for restaurants, and we think Potbelly will kill it in Atlanta.”
This location will launch a larger expansion for Potbelly in the Atlanta area, for both Royal Restaurant Group and other franchisees. Earlier this year, Potbelly announced a second deal with another group, KTP PB, LLC, with plans to add another 15 more restaurants to the market over the next eight years.
