Potbelly Sandwich Works is expanding its Central Florida footprint through a new 10-shop franchise development agreement with veteran franchise operator BD Patel and his nephews, Bhavesh and Mihir Patel.
Under the agreement, the Patel family will develop 10 Potbelly shops across Central Florida, initially concentrating on high-visibility trade areas in Northeast Orlando and surrounding communities, with additional development planned for Gainesville. The family’s longer-term strategy is to bring the brand into residential neighbourhoods, business districts and university communities across the territory.
The agreement adds another experienced multi-unit operator to Potbelly’s growing franchise network and strengthens the company’s push to expand in Florida, a state the brand has identified as a key growth market.
BD Patel brings more than 30 years of franchise experience to the agreement. His background includes franchise development leadership and multi-unit ownership with brands including Dunkin’, Quiznos and Mooyah Burgers, as well as participation on franchise advisory councils. His nephews bring complementary operating and hospitality experience.
Bhavesh Patel has helped expand the family’s convenience-store business, giving him experience in operations and business growth. Mihir Patel moved into hospitality after a career in information technology and owns a franchised hotel. The family is therefore combining restaurant franchising, convenience retail, hospitality and technology experience as it builds the Potbelly business in Central Florida.
For the family, the deal also has an existing connection to the brand. Bhavesh and his wife became regular Potbelly customers while attending the University of Cincinnati, creating a relationship with the sandwich concept before the family decided to pursue franchise ownership.
“We were looking for a brand with long-term growth potential, but it also had to be one we genuinely believed in,” said BD Patel. He added that the family recognized Potbelly’s brand strength and operating model and viewed Central Florida’s continued influx of residents, businesses and visitors as a strong fit for the concept.
Jennifer Durham, Senior Vice President of Franchising and Development at Potbelly, said the Patel family’s experience and approach align with the type of franchise partners the company is seeking.
“BD, Bhavesh and Mihir bring exactly the kind of experience, operational discipline and long-term vision we look for in franchise partners,” Durham said, pointing to their combined backgrounds in franchise leadership, hospitality and business ownership.
The new agreement comes as Potbelly is building a substantial Florida development pipeline. The company said it currently has more than 10 shops open in the state and more than 54 additional locations covered by development agreements. Its Florida pipeline includes Tampa, Sarasota-Bradenton, Fort Myers-Naples, Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Panama City Beach.
Potbelly’s Florida expansion has been underway for several years. In 2023, the company said it had nearly 50 locations in various stages of development across the state, with agreements covering 46 shops across Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, Broward County, Gainesville and Panama City. At that time, Potbelly described Florida as a strategic growth market and said it was seeking experienced restaurant owner/operators for additional territories.
The latest Central Florida agreement also follows Potbelly’s broader acceleration in franchise development during 2026. In an August 13 update, the company said its second-quarter growth included a 10-shop agreement for the Central Florida/Orlando region as well as a four-shop agreement in Knoxville, Tennessee. Potbelly said the agreements demonstrate the strength of the experienced multi-unit operator groups it is attracting.
Potbelly’s franchise strategy is built around experienced operators and multi-unit development. The company’s franchise model provides franchisees with access to its operating system, training, purchasing power, marketing and brand recognition. New franchisees participate in an eight-week training programme involving hands-on experience in company-operated shops. Conventional franchise agreements have an initial 10-year term with renewal options, while development agreements give franchisees exclusive rights to develop shops within specified geographic territories for an agreed period.
The brand has also been expanding through a range of formats, including traditional inline and endcap locations as well as drive-thru and non-traditional venues. Potbelly previously said these flexible formats, together with multiple dayparts and catering opportunities, are intended to give franchisees additional avenues for revenue generation.
Nationally, Potbelly now has more than 470 shops and is advancing toward its 500th location. The company, founded in Chicago in 1977, is approaching its 50th anniversary in 2027 and continues to position franchising as a central component of its next phase of growth. Its menu centres on toasted sandwiches, salads, hand-dipped shakes and baked cookies, with the brand positioning each shop around a neighbourhood-focused customer experience.
