Franchisees Brent and Michele Brouse are opening Wilmington’s first Potbelly Sandwich Shop, with 13 new shops across North and South Carolina in the pipeline.
Due to open to the public on July 6, the new site will be located at 2515 S. 17th St., Unit A, in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The shop, which will also have significant outdoor seating available for up to 60 guests to enjoy meals safely, will bring more than 20 jobs to the local area.
The Brouses live in Wilmington and are passionate about the community. They bring with them restaurant industry experience with Lettuce Entertain You, as well as time spent in finance and business event planning.
“We’re thrilled to open our Potbelly location for our neighbors here in Wilmington to enjoy. Now more than ever, individuals in the area are looking to venture to different places and try new restaurants – safely, of course,” said Brent. “We’ve been familiar with the Potbelly brand for years, so it’s a great feeling to be able to offer our variety of delicious sandwiches, soups and more to the community. They’ll be coming back for seconds in no time!”
The Potbelly Wilmington location is part of a franchise agreement for the development of 13 new shops across North and South Carolina. The deal with Brent and Michele Brouse includes opening shops along the eastern section of the states, as well as in nearby inland markets.
“Brent and Michele are the perfect fit to bring Potbelly to Wilmington. With their deep understanding and connection to the community, I can think of no one better to introduce the brand,” said Peter Ortiz, vice president of franchise development at Potbelly. “We’re excited to see how the Brouses make Potbelly a local favorite in the coming months.”
A grand opening event is tentative for the fall, pending the CDC’s recommendations on mid-size gatherings. The Potbelly Wilmington location will follow CDC guidelines throughout its opening and will be taking extra precautions to ensure the health and safety of its customers and employees.
Precautions include requiring employees to wear facemasks and gloves at all times, regular sanitation of the POS systems and phone screens, cleaning tables after each use, new floor decals that show customers how to social distance in line, and plexiglass barriers at the cashier’s station and in line.
