SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Potbelly, the iconic neighborhood sandwich shop known for its craveable menu and community-driven atmosphere, has signed a five-shop franchise development agreement in the Phoenix metropolitan area with Scottsdale-based entrepreneur and consulting industry CEO Andrew Walker. The agreement marks a significant step in the brand’s continued Southwest expansion and will bring new Potbelly shops to Scottsdale, Mesa and surrounding communities.

Walker will operate the locations through Happy Mountain Eats LLC, his Scottsdale-based restaurant development company. He plans to open the first shop in 2027 and is currently working with local real estate partners to secure high-visibility locations throughout the territory.

While the initial agreement includes five shops, Walker is approaching development with a disciplined, long-term strategy and sees additional growth opportunities across the rapidly expanding Phoenix market. There are currently 11 Potbelly shops operating in Arizona.

A seasoned operator and CEO with more than 25 years of experience building and scaling high-growth, technology-enabled services companies, Walker brings deep operational expertise and a people-first leadership style to his Potbelly franchise venture. Throughout his career, he has worked alongside global enterprises and private equity-backed firms, serving on founding leadership teams and as CEO while leading organizations through periods of rapid growth, operational transformation and cultural development.

Applying that experience, Walker is taking an operator-investor approach to his Potbelly venture, combining disciplined site selection, strong local partnerships and a focus on unit-level economics to build a scalable multi-shop platform.

“As someone who has spent my career building and scaling businesses, I was drawn to the opportunity to grow a brand with such a strong foundation and loyal following,” said Walker. “Potbelly combines strong unit economics, a differentiated guest experience and a culture built around community. That combination creates a compelling opportunity to scale thoughtfully in high-growth markets like Phoenix. I’m excited to build a strong team, create an engaging culture and make each of our shops a true neighborhood gathering place.”

Walker also plans to become actively involved in the Scottsdale and Phoenix business communities, supporting local organizations and building relationships that strengthen each shop’s connection to its surrounding neighborhood.

“Andrew embodies the kind of growth-minded, community-focused entrepreneur we’re proud to welcome into the Potbelly franchise family,” said Jennifer Durham, SVP of Franchising and Development at Potbelly. “His extensive leadership experience and operational mindset align well with what it takes to successfully grow the brand in Phoenix.”

Phoenix is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan markets in the United States, creating significant opportunity for strong neighborhood restaurant concepts.

Potbelly has been serving neighborhoods for nearly fifty years, offering its signature lineup of toasted sandwiches, fresh salads, hand-dipped shakes and baked cookies in an environment designed to reflect the local community. With nearly 470 shops nationwide and plans to cross the 500-shop threshold in 2026, the brand continues to expand through both company and franchise development in high-potential markets across the country.

For more information about franchising with Potbelly, visit www.potbelly.com/franchising.

About Potbelly

Founded in Chicago in 1977, Potbelly Sandwich Works is a neighborhood sandwich concept known for warm, toasty sandwiches, signature salads, hand-dipped shakes, and genuine “good vibes” hospitality. Each shop reflects the unique character of its local community, all while delivering a consistent guest experience. A strong operational model, impressive average unit volumes and shop profitability consistently place the brand among the top-performing sandwich concepts in the fast casual sector of the restaurant industry. Additionally, QSR magazine named Potbelly to its “Best Places to Work in 2025” ranking, earning the spot because of the people-first culture that envelops the company. Backed by a robust development pipeline, Potbelly is entering its next phase of growth with plans to open 50 new shops in 2026 and advance toward the brand’s 500th location nationwide. As Potbelly approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, prioritizing operational simplicity, exceptional franchisee support and a focus on long-term shop profitability remain consistent across its system. For more information, please visit our website at franchising.potbelly.com