The Potbelly Sandwich Shop, a Chicago-based enterprise, has chosen Orange County for its foray into the California market, after first revealing plans two years ago for its expansion to the West Coast.
Sameer Bhatia, already a Planet Fitness franchisee, has signed an operating agreement to be the first franchise of a California Potbelly. The premium Business Cards for the state’s first Potbelly Sandwich Shop may list Laguna Beach, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, or Irvine as its location.
Bhatia is investigating sites in each of these communities, all of which are in comfortable driving distance from Tustin. For its part, the chain has set its sights on Southern California, Central Valley, and East Bay regions of the state for future locations.
Potbelly was founded in Chicago in 1977 and, much like Subway, utilizes an assembly-line service but with a significantly upscale atmosphere. Restaurants such as Potbelly and Panera Bread fall into the “quick service plus” category, although Potbelly’s prices are lower at about $5 - $8 per sandwich. The Potbelly chain is described as having a “neighborhood atmosphere”. The menu consists of toasted sandwiches featuring hand-sliced deli meat, salads, soups, milkshakes, and cookies.
Bhatia, a Yorba Linda businessman, became familiar with the chain while working in New York and has plans to open four stores within the next three years. He anticipates opening the first of these restaurants within a year.
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2600 Walnut Avenue
Suite H
Tustin, CA 92780
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Mon: 8:30 - 5:30
Tue: 8:30 - 5:30
Wed: 8:30 - 5:30
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