Chicago favorite opens up shop in Bloomington

They sat in a wooden booth, chowing down on large subs. One was wearing a White Sox hat, the other a Bulls hat.

It was clear then that customers Scott Mayer and Ross Jacobs are true to their Chicago roots. So when they heard that Potbelly Sandwich Shop, a Chicago staple, was opening in Bloomington, they said they couldn’t have been more excited.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop opened Aug. 22 in Kirkwood Avenue’s Von Lee Theatre. It occupies the space where Dunkin’ Donuts used to be.

Potbelly got its start in Chicago as an antique shop that also sold sandwiches. It became a chain in 1996 and now has more than 200 locations around the country.

The menu at Potbelly is fairly small; it is comprised mostly of sandwiches, salads and milkshakes. General Manager Diedre Wagster said if you don’t see something you like, you don’t have to worry.

“There’s sort of  a secret, underground menu that our regular customers know,” Wagster said. “Basically, if we have the ingredients, we can make anything for you.”

The shop also delivers by bike, but some customers said they come to Potbelly for more than the food. The atmosphere of the shop has attracted junior Mary Inserra to Potbelly three times this week.

“I just feel more comfortable sitting here than in other sandwich places,” Inserra said. “It’s cozy.”

The place is filled with old-fashioned lighting and mismatched antique furniture. On Thursday evenings and at lunch-time on Saturdays, Potbelly features live music from local artists, Wagster said.

This event is one of the methods Potbelly is using to set itself apart from the many other similar eateries on and near Kirkwood Avenue, an area already densely populated with sandwich restaurants like Which Wich, Bloomington Sandwich Company and the Village Deli.

But Wagster said she isn’t worried.

“There’s an energy here you can’t describe,” said Wagster. “You just have to come experience it for yourself.”