3 right-sized restaurant prototypes

Potbelly and Z!Eats are whittling down unit footprints, while Carvel redesigned its "shoppes" for real estate flexibility. Take a look at these three prototypes.

The Chicago-based sandwich chain started working on a new prototype last year and the first was scheduled to open in Arkansas in May, said CEO Bob Wright.

This new format is a bit smaller—around 1,800-square feet, as opposed to the more typical 2,300-square-foot shops—but it could go as small as 1,700-square feet, giving franchisees flexibility with real estate and lowering the lease burden. The design also preserves the trademark antique-shop-inspired décor.

The prototype, however, will explore a “right sized” makeline, Wright said. Guest will still be able to walk the line, like in a traditional shop, but it will be a bit shorter and will have some equipment efficiencies. In addition, the back makeline, which handles digital orders, has also been redesigned with easier accessibility to the cooler and the pickup shelf. The drink station will also be upgraded.

Potbelly hopes to add about 30 restaurants this year, with another 10 in development opening this year or next. Most will be the new prototype, Wright said.

For its 90th birthday this year, Carvel is getting a face lift.

Parent company GoToFoods last week unveiled a new shoppe design as part of a brand refresh, which will debut at two locations in Gainesville, Florida and Jamaica, N.Y.

The units are designed for flexibility to fit into a variety of real estate, including end-caps, in-lines, urban streetscapes or “captive audience venues,” the company said. There’s an updated logo and color scheme, digital menu boards and the Qu point of sale system the company announced earlier this year would be rolled out.

The protoype units will also have upright freezers to store Fudgie and Cookie Puss cakes and other frozen grab-and-go treats; along with a reduced equipment package. There’s also a cute truck mural that pays tribute to the brand’s origin story (Tom Carvel started the brand out of the back of his truck), as well as art that reflects the local community.

WOWorks acquired the Zoup! brand in 2022, moved the exclamation point to a grammatically rulebreaking spot, and renamed it Z!Eats.

Last month, the first new Z!Eats location made its debut in Atlanta, a standalone restaurant that will serve as the new design prototype going forward.

WOWorks describes Z!Eats as the evolution of the soup-focused Zoup! The newer version will offer soup, of course, but also bowls, sandwiches and other “clean ingredient” offerings designed to appeal to a younger generation, the company said.

 More new units of Z!Eats are under construction, with the next one scheduled to open in Fairfax, Virginia. And existing Zoup! locations will also be converted by September nationwide, the company said.