Creve Coeur Gets A Potbelly

Almost seven months to the day , Creve Coeur can now lay claim to having a Potbelly.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop's first location in Missouri opens Thursday in the former Provisions Gourmet Market spot at CityPlace.

Local franchise owners Todd Stimson and Dr. Lawrence Boveri held a friends and family invitation only event Wednesday, but the most important visitor might have been from the St. Louis County Health Department, to do the opening inspection.

Check out our Facebook Photo Gallery From Wednesday's "Soft Open"

Potbelly's decor is known for a few things....a Potbelly stove, hence the restaurant's name, an American Flag, and local flavor. Inside you'll find pictures of area landmarks past and present, along with pictures of previous generations of the franchisee's family. Lawrence Boveri, M.D.'s father Joseph can be seen as a teenager at Sportsman's Park, for example. There is also a picture of Stimson's grandfather, a jazz musician, from back in the day.

The restaurant is just about fully staffed with 25 employees, aiming for 28 and Stimson said they're expecting to be busy these first few days, especially. Normally, service is supposed to take four minutes, but he warned that could stretch between 10-15 at the opening.

A Crown Optical outlet will fill the rest of the former Provisions space at CityPlace.