Sponsored by Potbelly
Ryan Hamra and Cody McPherson have very different backgrounds, but their philosophy is iron-clad: rely on each other’s strengths and give customers great food.
The duo have parlayed their individual successes running franchise businesses into a partnership that is bringing Potbelly Sandwich Shop’s latest store prototype to their home state of Arkansas.
A 15-Year Journey to Potbelly Ownership
Hamra, a longtime restaurant industry worker, remembers his first Potbelly sandwich.
“I lived in Chicago after graduating college and fell in love with Potbelly after my first bite,” Hamra said. “It was a roast beef sandwich, and once I tasted those hot peppers I was hooked. As someone who grew up in restaurants, I could tell when I went into the shops that there was something special about the way they were run.”
After that first Potbelly experience in 1999, Hamra knew that he wanted to be a part of this brand. He began inquiring about Potbelly upon returning to his hometown, Little Rock.
“I was ready to get out of fast food and late nights,” Hamra said. “At the time, Chipotle and Subway were gaining popularity, and the market was trending toward fresher ingredients and healthier choices. Potbelly was the right opportunity.”
Potbelly was not yet in the franchising space when Hamra began showing interest in bringing the brand to Arkansas, but patience proved to be a virtue. Once Potbelly began expanding its footprint, Hamra was invited to join in multiple rounds of interviews. He became one of Potbelly’s very first franchise owners and, after rigorous in-store training, he opened his first shop in October of 2014. Hamra also owns the Little Rock location of Blue Coast Burrito, a Baja-style Mexican franchise concept.
Life After the Military
After six years in the Air Force, McPherson knew what he wanted his next act to be. With a year left in the military, he began exploring franchise opportunities that indulged his other passion: food.
Although the Air Force demanded a strict diet and fitness regimen, McPherson took great pleasure in “cheat meals” and sought a dessert concept as his entry into the franchising space. He opened his first Crumbl Cookies location in Jonesboro, AR in 2020. A few months later, he opened a second.
As McPherson grew into his role as a Multi-Unit franchisee with Crumbl, he started to seek out ways to expand his portfolio. Like Crumbl, Potbelly’s menu features a fresh, innovative spin on classic flavors that McPherson was drawn to.
“I love the vibes, the family environment, and especially the product,” McPherson said of Potbelly.
The Perfect Franchising Match
Potbelly’s franchising team arranged a meeting between Hamra and McPherson to discuss a potential partnership. Impressed with McPherson’s youth, energy, and background as a Multi-Unit franchise owner, Hamra knew this was the right person to help him expand from Central Arkansas into the state’s rapidly growing northwest region.
“Each of the partners in our ownership group took a test to evaluate our leadership styles, and the results showed that we complement one another perfectly,” noted Hamra.
Within their ownership group, Hamra, McPherson, and operating partner Tiffany Montgomery oversee the areas that best fit their skill sets and leadership styles. Montgomery handles day-to-day and hands-on aspects of the business, while McPherson manages personnel and Hamra serves as the group’s majority stakeholder and spokesperson.
Growing with the Potbelly Digital Kitchen
McPherson recently opened a location in Jonesboro, featuring Potbelly’s new digital prototype, including the Potbelly Digital Kitchen. Both entrepreneurs believe in the concept’s ability to revolutionize the way Potbelly serves customers, and plan to utilize the digital prototype in future locations.
At Potbelly Digital Kitchen locations, staff members can track the flow of each sandwich or order as it moves from station to station. Its digital nature provides increased integration with the Potbelly app, which in turn drives more customers to Potbelly Digital Kitchen locations. While the digital prototype is available in a range of formats, Hamra and McPherson note that it’s a particularly strong option for drive-thru locations.
McPherson notes that Potbelly’s flexible formats make it easier to secure real estate, keeping their long-term plans on track. They anticipate opening two to three stores per year, with 14 total stores in operation across Central and Northwest Arkansas.
