Potbelly Sandwich Shop announced an agreement that will soon bring North Dakota its first shop. Currently slated to open this summer, the shop is in development at Fargo’s new Prairie Stone Center at 4445 17th Ave. S. The widely acclaimed neighborhood hangout will feature its sandwiches, hand-dipped milkshakes, and live, local music this summer.
Potbelly shops have earned a reputation in communities coast-to-coast, for having food, fun décor, and tunes. Stephanie Bayman, the new sandwich shop’s operating partner, is a West Fargo native and the successful operator of frozen yogurt shops in Fargo, Moorhead and Bismarck.
“I am so excited to open Fargo’s first Potbelly shop,” Bayman says. “I have been an active member of the Fargo community my whole life. As a community-driven shop, Potbelly is going to find a welcome home here in Fargo and across the state.”
Bayman will manage the restaurant’s operations, handling new staff recruitment, even booking local musicians, when Fargo’s “best place for lunch” opens this summer.
“When people from Fargo travel the Midwest, Potbelly is always one of their must-visit destinations. I’m excited to save some folks the trip and bring this awesome sandwich shop to our community,” Bayman says. “I’ve been a music lover my whole life, and I’m especially looking forward to giving local musicians a place to perform for their friends and neighbors.”
Fargo’s first Potbelly Sandwich Shop will hire about 30 staff members, including customer service staff and managers. The restaurant’s operation and delivery hours will be announced at a later date.
“Stephanie and her team are the perfect addition to the Potbelly family. We are thrilled to share our delicious shakes and sandwiches with their neighbors in Fargo,” says Mike Walters, head of franchise development for Potbelly Sandwich Shop. “Every new sandwich shop is designed to resemble the community it resides in, and Stephanie has the deep rooted community values Potbelly looks for when choosing franchise partners.”
Potbelly Sandwich Shop first opened in Chicago in 1977, and now includes more than 300 shops across the U.S. There are also 20-plus franchise shops in the U.S. and abroad, and the company is projecting more franchised shops to open in 2014.
