Sandwich Chain's Downtown Crossing Location Closes Its Doors

The chain previously closed its Porter Square restaurant in Cambridge in 2018 after nearly five years in business.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Oct 28, 2026 3:26 PM EDT | Updated Oct 28, 2026 3:49 PM EDT

BOSTON, MA — A longtime sandwich shop has closed its Downtown Crossing location after more than 14 years in business.

Potbelly Sandwich Works at 263 Washington St. served customers for the final time on Sunday, Oct. 25, according to a message posted on the restaurant's door. The message did not provide a specific reason for the closure.

"Sorry, this shop is closing. Sunday, October 25th will be our last day of business," the message read.

The restaurant opened Sept. 6, 2012, several months after the Chicago-based chain opened its first Massachusetts location at Logan Airport. Coverage of the Washington Street opening described vintage-style decor, hand-dipped milkshakes, and live musicians.

Potbelly's menu features oven-toasted sandwiches, salads, wraps, cookies, hand-dipped shakes, and other items. According to the company's directory, four Massachusetts locations remain at 1 Federal St. in Boston, in Burlington, and in Logan Airport's terminals B and C. The Washington Street restaurant is no longer listed.

The chain previously closed its Porter Square restaurant in Cambridge in 2018 after nearly five years in business. The outlet also reported the apparent permanent closure of its Braintree location at 30 Forbes Road in April 2023.

The business began in 1977, when Peter Hastings and his wife started serving sandwiches to customers at their antique shop in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, according to the company. Bryant Keil, a regular customer, purchased the original shop in 1996, and a second location opened in 1997.

Potbelly expanded beyond Chicago with a Washington, D.C., location in 2002 and opened its 100th shop in 2005. The company began franchising in 2009 and went public in October 2013. It now has more than 450 locations nationwide.

Convenience-store company RaceTrac acquired Potbelly in October 2025, making the sandwich chain a wholly owned subsidiary. RaceTrac said at the time that Potbelly had more than 445 company- and franchise-owned shops, with a long-term goal of reaching 2,000 locations.