Potbelly's closing downtown sandwich shop

The owners of Rochester’s two Potbelly Sandwich Shops say they will be permanently closing their downtown location on Sept. 23.

The shop, located at 318 First Avenue SW, has been serving up submarine sandwiches and milkshakes for lunch-goers for the past 10 years.

In the announcement, posted Thursday to Facebook, the Potbelly franchise owners said the closure was driven by “persistent and complex workforce challenges,” along with expiring franchise and lease agreements.

“Our energies will now be fully focused on our northwest location, where we will continue to proudly serve you, including our beloved downtown regulars,” they wrote.

The remaining Potbelly shop is located at 3801 Marketplace Drive NW.