OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) - Like many restaurants in the Omaha area, Potbelly Sandwich Shop has seen a sharp decrease in sales since the coronavirus began.
“We lost about 70% of our sales just off the bat,” said Craig Frantz, who owns three Potbelly shops in Omaha. “We're very thankful that we we’re still able to be open, obviously in a limited capacity, but we've been able to retain most of our staff. Unfortunately, hours have been cut back.”
Frantz said the business relied a lot on catering, but with so many people working from home, there aren’t many of those opportunities anymore.
“Obviously, people staying home and doing the right thing and not going into work, that business is really all but evaporated. It's completely gone for the most part now,” Frantz said.
Instead they’re using their skills to make sandwiches in a flash, to feed those who are working long hours on the front lines of this pandemic.
Potbelly launched an “Adopt a Doctor” program this week, letting customers pay for boxed lunches that are donated to medical workers around the Omaha area.
“$10 that gets a individual box lunch with a hot toasted sandwich, a freshly baked cookie that we make in our shops every morning, and then a bag of chips
The shop partnered with Chi Immanuel Hospital for its first drop off on Friday, providing around 50 lunches to those working in the emergency department.
The shop is still doing carry out and delivery, and anyone interested in adding a donation onto their order can do so over the phone.
More information and locations:
7425 Dodge St #101, Omaha, NE 68116 (402) 884-9947
2056 N 117th Ave Suite A-1, Omaha, NE 68164 (402) 916-4513
8350 S 71st Plaza #107, Papillion, NE 68133 (402) 991-6046
Menu: places.singleplatform.com
Order: doordash.com