Potbelly Sandwich Works has opened a second Sarasota restaurant at Fruitville Farms, just east of Interstate 75 near Fruitville Road and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. The counter is already taking orders. The ribbon-cutting is still on the calendar.
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports the shop at 6650 Fruitville Road, Unit 146, in the Fruitville Farms shopping center, open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Guests can dine in, book catering, use third-party delivery, or order ahead for pickup through Potbelly's website or app.
A Line Worth Getting In
The grand opening is scheduled for Dec. 4, with a ribbon-cutting and a game offering chances at food, merchandise and other prizes. The first 50 guests in line are set to get free Potbelly for a year.
Carol Manick said Potbelly aims to build its local presence and connect with more Sarasota fans. The local math is simpler than the slogan: this is the second Sarasota shop in roughly a year and a half.
The Shop Across From the Hospital
The first Sarasota-area Potbelly opened May 22, 2025, at 1635 S. Tamiami Trail, across from Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Your Observer reported. It took the space next to Buffalo Wild Wings that had previously housed Tijuana Flats.
That Trail location put toasted sandwiches across from a hospital campus. Fruitville Farms puts the same menu on the east side of I-75, closer to Lakewood Ranch Boulevard traffic than to downtown Sarasota.
Manatee Still on a 2027 Target
In late September, Business Observer reported that SVN Commercial Advisory Group said Potbelly planned three locations in Sarasota and Manatee counties between late 2026 and early 2027. Fruitville Farms was the one anticipated later in 2026. That shop has now opened.
Bayshore Gardens and SeaFlower in Manatee County were still being described as early 2027 targets, not completed openings. The Bradenton Herald reported in October that those two shops were aiming for early 2027, and that the Bayshore Gardens site would join a plaza that also includes Target, Publix and Chick-fil-A.
A September 2025 Herald-Tribune report had already named Potbelly as a future tenant at SeaFlower Village Center, without an opening date. SVN also said it was still pursuing additional Class A sites in the market, looking for spaces of 1,800 to 2,400 square feet.
What Is Actually on the Menu
Potbelly was founded in Chicago in 1977 and is known for oven-toasted sandwiches and hand-dipped shakes. The lineup includes Italian, turkey avocado, chicken club, meatball and grilled chicken sandwiches, plus A Wreck, built with turkey breast, hickory-smoked ham, Angus roast beef, salami and Swiss. Wraps, salads, soups, sides and cookies round out the counter.
According to the company, Potbelly has grown to more than 465 shops nationwide, including more than 105 franchised locations, with more than 80 shops under development agreements in Florida. Named development markets include Sarasota-Bradenton, Tampa, Fort Myers-Naples, Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Gainesville, Ocala and Panama City Beach.
Anyone chasing a year of free sandwiches has a date, a line and a 50-person cutoff on Dec. 4. Everyone else can already get a toasted sandwich at Fruitville Farms from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
