Potbelly Sandwich Shop Gets OK on Acoustic Guitar Performances

After looking skeptically two weeks ago upon a proposal from Potbelly Sandwich Shop to feature live music during lunch, Braintree officials came around Tuesday and granted the restaurant an entertainment license.

The Board of License Commissioners voted 4-1 to allow a single, acoustic guitar player to perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Live music has been a part of Potbelly's branding since it grew from an antique shop in Chicago to more than 300 locations today, marketing manager Eric Andreoni said. The 43-seat establishment at the Hyatt Place shopping complex across from the South Shore Plaza will feature mostly cover tunes from the 70s and 80s and Potbelly will encourage local musicians and high school students to perform.

Volume levels will remain low to allow for conversation – Andreoni said the live music is probably softer than music piped through speakers – and musicians will not collect tips or sell CDs.

"It is very strictly managed," Andreoni said.

The license request was put on hold for two weeks after a representative for the company, who did not appear Tuesday, ran into difficulties over the restaurant prematurely advertising live music and setting up outdoor seating.

Since then, Potbelly has been in talks with the planning department about outdoor seating and is preparing a separate application for that request. Andreoni and the store manager also presented the board a copy of its lease, showing that the owner approved of having live music at the store.

Still, Board Chair Joe Powers voted against granting the license, arguing that Braintree has not allowed this kind of entertainment at fast food establishments in the past and that it could set a precedent.

"I see an entertainment piece as slowing that fast experience down," Powers said. "There's a whole bunch in Braintree that would open it up to."

Andreoni contended that Potbelly is different than most restaurants typically considered fast food. It is more a "fast casual" establishment, he said, though that is a category not specified by applicable regulations.

"I don't know that our concept fits into the category of fast food," Andreoni said. "There's no grease fryers. There's no late nights."