The highly anticipated Deerwood Village restaurant is the first of seven planned Potbelly locations in Jacksonville, franchise owner Patrick Prendergast previously told the newspaper.<\/p>\n
In the works for nearly two years, the roughly 1,566-square-foot Deerwood Village restaurant will have about 20 seats, he said. Prendergast has estimated that the Deerwood Village restaurant cost about $1 million.<\/p>\n
More restaurant news: Sign up for Dining Notes, our free weekly newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n Potbelly Sandwich Works plans to open the first of seven planned restaurants in Jacksonville in May at 9908 Old Baymeadows Road in Deerwood Village shopping center.<\/p>\n The\u00a0restaurant chain<\/a>\u00a0fills a gap in Jacksonville’s fast-casual dining scene, he said about the estimated timetable for the proposed Jacksonville restaurants.<\/p>\n “A sub’s a sub, and then there is a Potbelly sub. Potbelly’s sending it through the oven, and you get that golden crispy bread once it’s through. It’s never a bad experience,” noted Prendergast, who was 14 when he got a job at a Potbelly on the Southside of Chicago and made his first sub.<\/p>\n Second Jacksonville Potbelly moving ahead<\/p>\n As the Deerwood Village restaurant opens, a second Jacksonville Potbelly<\/a> is already moving forward.<\/p>\n Prendergast has said he’s hoping for a mid-June opening for the Potbelly slated for 13529 Beach Blvd., Suite 101, at Hodges Station shopping center, in the Intracoastal West area.<\/p>\n The Hodges Station buildout is estimated at $600,000, according to the city building permit application. The status of the application \u2014 as of April 16 \u2014 was listed as “return for corrections,” according to the city website.<\/p>\n The Hodges Station and Deerwood Village restaurants are about the same size. But a drive-thru is planned at the Hodges Station location as an added convenience for diners, Prendergast has said.<\/p>\n On the Potbelly menu Potbelly’s A Wreck sandwich.<\/p>\n Now, a multiple franchise owner at age 38, Prendergast said Potbelly is still as good and special as when he started with the restaurant chain.<\/p>\n “It’s not just sandwiches. It’s soups, it’s salads, it’s shakes, smoothies, mac and cheese and chili \u2026 a variety of taste experiences,” he said. “It’s all the above, and it’s unlike any sub experience that Jacksonville has today. And it’s always such a welcoming, warm environment. ‘Good people, good vibes,’ that’s Potbelly’s motto.”<\/p>\n Among\u00a0Potbelly\u2019s popular sandwiches<\/a>\u00a0are:<\/p>\n A Wreck: Turkey breast, hickory-smoked ham, Angus roast beef, salami and Swiss<\/p>\n Cubano: Slow-cooked pulled pork, hickory-smoked ham, Swiss, deli mustard, pickles<\/p>\n Prime Rib Steak: Tender sliced prime rib steak, Swiss, housemade caramelized onions and garlic aioli. Potbelly signature Hot Peppers are optional<\/p>\n Italian: Salami, old-world capicola, pepperoni, mortadella and provolone<\/p>\n Mama\u2019s Meatball: Homestyle beef and pork meatballs smothered in marinara sauce, provolone and Italian seasoning<\/p>\n Mediterranean: All-natural grilled chicken, feta, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, cucumbers and Potbelly\u2019s signature hot pepper hummus<\/p>\n Pizza Melt: Pepperoni, old-world capicola, crumbled meatball, smothered in marinara sauce, provolone, Italian seasoning and mushrooms (where available)<\/p>\n Established in 1977 in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Potbelly has at least 450 stores nationwide, including 16 in Florida, according to its website.<\/p>\n (This story was edited to reflect an updated opening date for the Deerwood Village restaurant.)<\/p>\n Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.<\/p>\n If you’re a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber<\/a> to get the latest dining coverage.<\/p>\n![\"Potbelly](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0767d08e6c4118e8e97988fbd8d72c67.jpeg\"\/)
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