There’s a divide growing in downtown College Park, and the sides are drawing battle lines.
In one corner are customers loyal to Potbelly’s – in the other, students who answer “Jimmy John” when asked, “Who’s your daddy?”
While Potbelly Sandwich Works’ general manager Laurette Dominguez plays down any rivalry, Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches’ assistant manager Jordan Middleman has one thing on his mind when he thinks of the opposing sandwich store.
“A fatass,” he said.
Such words prod Jordan Andrew, a senior economics and government and politics major who eats at Potbelly’s twice a week, to counterattack.
“A redneck would rather eat at Jimmy John’s than [Potbelly’s],” he said. “Jimmy John’s sounds like a southern hick.”
Robert Covert, a Jimmy John’s delivery boy, rebuts Andrew’s criticism.
“What’s friendlier than a redneck?” he said.
Covert then commenced round two of the match by insinuating that eating at Potbelly’s could be a fatal mistake.
“It seems like if you eat too many of the Italian subs, they could kill you,” he said.
On a technicality, the senior cell, molecular biology and genetics major has a point, as Potbelly’s Italian sub comes with mortadella, a sausage made of beef, pork and pork fat seasoned with pepper and garlic that sounds a lot like muerte, the Spanish word for “death.”
Nonetheless, the nonsense must stop, said Dominguez, who asserts there is no rivalry between Potbelly, which she opened in February, and Jimmy John’s, which opened in the summer. The effervescent 32-year -old is unwilling to talk negatively about the gourmet sub shop.
“I’m not going to be a bad neighbor,” she said. “I wish everyone the best.”
Dominguez and Jimmy John’s employees agree each store has a different niche. She says Potbelly specializes in hot sandwiches and freshness while Covert maintains Jimmy John’s concentrates on cold subs made-to-order quickly.
That fast service is actually a turn-off to Andrew.
“They make them so quick but they at the same time sacrifice quality,” he said. “A little bit of extra care and preparation makes for a much better sandwich.”
Jimmy John’s has a sign on the wall directed to people like Andrew who criticize its product.
“If one of our sandwiches doesn’t hit the spot,” it reads, “there’s something seriously wrong with your spot.”
In contrast to Jimmy John’s “You’re either with us or against us” philosophy, Potbelly’s prides itself on friendliness and happiness, Dominguez said. She revels in the fact that many students come in daily, earning Dominguez’s affection and the nickname “Potbelly Addict.”
“When you come in, I’ll know your name,” she said before offering an example. “‘Hey John! How you doing? Fresh double meat, right?'”
While the debate rumbles on in students’ stomachs, a Jimmy John’s employee waves the white flag. Carlo San Gabriel, a freshman letters and sciences major whose best friend, freshman Beth Stewart, works at Potbelly, has worked as a delivery boy for Jimmy John’s since October. He takes no pride in admitting that.
“Jimmy John’s probably won’t want me to say this to The Diamondback, but everyone knows Jimmy John’s is not the best place [in College Park],” he said. “There’s nothing special about it.”
For now, Potbelly and Jimmy John’s work to end the semester on a high note. Loyal customers like Andrew and friend Jordan Weinstein will continue to pledge their allegiance to Potbelly several times a week, while other students will faithfully chow down at Jimmy John’s, if only because, as junior Dov Marmor and sophomore Tali Schulman conceded, they have to use their Meal Deal points.
With Subway and California Tortilla perched in the wings and Quiznos Sub and Roly Poly Sandwiches set to open at the beginning of the spring semester, this sandwich street fight may turn into a battle royale.
