Downtown Dallas is getting a new player in the lunchtime arms race. Potbelly is set to open a sandwich shop at The National next Monday, June 29, sliding into a ground-level Elm Street spot just steps from a Chick-fil-A and a busy local coffee counter. The Chicago-born chain adds one more national grab-and-go option to a stretch of Elm that has already been reshaped by a pricey redevelopment of the former bank tower.
The move has been in the works for a while. State records from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation list a Potbelly tenant-improvement project at 1401 Elm St., Suite 210, covering roughly 1,850 square feet with an estimated $500,000 fit-out. The filing and approval earlier this year set up a turnkey space inside The National, which is now ready for sandwiches and lunchtime traffic.
The National’s recent history
The National, the former First National Bank tower at 1401 Elm, reopened as a mixed-use high-rise with a hotel, residences, retail and offices, then promptly ran into financial trouble. Investors pumped roughly $460 million into the overhaul before the property headed toward foreclosure in January 2026. Street-level restaurants, however, stayed open during the lender’s takeover, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Potbelly has been on a growth kick in Texas and across the country. Industry coverage notes the chain operates more than 460 shops systemwide and over 60 in Texas as it ramps up franchise deals, a strategy that has pushed the brand into shopping centers and less traditional streetfront spaces. Observers say that approach helps explain the downtown Dallas lease, according to QSR Magazine.
Where and when
The downtown Potbelly is scheduled to open next Monday, June 29, in a ground-level Elm Street space near the building’s Chick-fil-A and White Rhino Coffee, according to Dallas News. The chain told the outlet its top sellers include the Italian, the meatball sub and the “A Wreck” meat-lover sandwich, so expect those to anchor the menu once doors open.
Downtown lunch scene
The Elm Street strip at The National is already a compact food court for downtown workers and hotel guests. Local coffee spot White Rhino holds down one corner, with its downtown debut chronicled by CultureMap Dallas. A street-facing Chick-fil-A on the same block adds another fast-food heavyweight, a location noted by The Chalk Report. Potbelly slots right into that quick-service cluster, giving downtown regulars one more decision to overthink between meetings.
Hints of the opening popped up earlier this spring when hiring notices tied to the Elm Street address started circulating. One local listing seeking team members at the Potbelly location lists The National’s address and role details, suggesting the crew was being assembled ahead of the launch, according to Seasoned.
