Potbelly Sandwich Works, Wicker Park, Chicago
I’ve been to the Potbelly on Michigan Ave. and on State St. about 1,000 times each, but I’d never been to the one in my neighborhood that opened on Damen Ave. Why would I ever want to go there, since there are so many other sandwich shops to choose from and I always went to the Potbelly downtown on my lunch break? But now, since I’ve been spending so much time at home, I decided to check out the store on Damen for a cheap lunch.
The interior is pretty much the same kind of feel as the one on State. The one on Michigan is in the Nordstrom mall’s food court so they can’t really control the feel as much. The biggest difference with the store on Damen is that they had a guy sitting up in a little balcony playing music live. He was pretty good, it could have been worse. I kept thinking he should play some Jack Johnson, that he’d be good at it, but he didn’t. I thought it was kind of odd that he didn’t have a sign or anything saying his name, and since he was 8 feet up in the air there was no way for you to tip him or talk to him. I wondered if this individual restaurant made a deal with the him or if Potbelly, as a franchise, supports local musicians this way.
On a side note, this is how you know you’re spending too much time at home: Oprah becomes a part of your daily routine. And not only that, but when Kanye West, whose latest album you love, is on the show and sings “Hey Mama,” a song that you were obsessed with and played 1,000 times in a row on repeat, to his mother.. right to her face.. and makes her dance with him. .. it makes you cry! Step away from the Oprah, Rachelle.
8 responses so far ↓
1 rachelle // Dec 31, 2005 at 10:15 am
another song off that late registration album i’ve listened to a ton is “heard’em say” with adam levine from maroon 5. the video is now up on kanyewest.com. Bill Plympton animated the video. it’s pretty cool.
2 Risa // Dec 31, 2005 at 11:05 am
Most Potbelly’s in Chicago have local musicians play, so it’s not unique to the one on Damen Ave. Of course the one in Nordstrom’s building is too small. But I’ve seen it at the one on Jackson/Wabash (same set up as you photographed). As well as the one in Illinois Center. As I type this, I think it’s time I step away from Potbelly’s
Looks like I’ve been to them all…
3 mom // Dec 31, 2005 at 1:42 pm
When we were in DC we all ate at a Potbelly’s and they to had a local musician. She was quite good at some of the songs to. We ate outside but they had speakers.
4 Brad // Jan 1, 2006 at 11:22 pm
I have never been to a Potbelly’s. At least that I am aware of. It looks fun and the 7 minute rule looks promising. I wonder if that’s a guarantee. Personally, if I was a musician, I’d find that venue relaxing and completely non-threatening. I might even be able to pretend that I’m alone in my studio flat, which would help abate the effects of the old rule that if someone is listening or watching, I’m a thousand times more likely to screw up whatever it is I’m doing. I’d have played Jack Johnson. It seems nearly impossible to be able to screw up a song like Bubble Toes.
5 Kelly // Jan 2, 2006 at 10:44 am
I was at potbelly’s for the first time on a trip to Chicago a month ago about 6 blocks from Nordstroms- and it was the same set up as you photographed.
Cheap lunch, ok music and a fun time was had by all!
Now if they just had martini’s it may have been perfect! 
6 mike // Jan 3, 2006 at 9:37 am
When Potbelly’s opened up in Dallas early last year, they’d have live music between noon and 2 p.m. The place was packed to the walls during the lunch rush, and you could barely hear the music. We always felt sorry for the artist of the day, wondering aloud if he even told his friends and loved ones about the gig.
7 e d scott // Jan 3, 2006 at 1:13 pm
At least you aren’t watching Maury yet.
8 Emily // Sep 15, 2007 at 10:43 pm
So, I know this post is two years old, but I just googled Potbelly and this came up.
I work at that store, and the girl looking directly toward the camera is my sister, Sarah. Weird.
The musician is Jason Hughes, he’s the lead singer of a band called Herbert Weiser.
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