Potbelly and Qdoba planned for new Mishawaka center

MISHAWAKA Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Qdoba Mexican Grill want to expand the northside Mishawaka restaurant choices for area diners.

A preliminary site plan submitted to the city indicates the restaurants would be constructed on about an acre of undeveloped land along North Main Street, between Douglas Road and Edison Lakes Parkway.

The vacant site is located immediately east of Meijer and south of La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries.

Construction could start as soon as May, which means the restaurants could open in late summer or early fall. But first, the project and several variance requests must be approved by Mishawaka officials.

"People are always excited when a new restaurant comes to town, because it gives them more choices," Greg Shearon, Mishawaka assistant city planner, said about the proposed tenants. "And these two restaurants would be new to our area."

Relaxation Investments of South Bend, the property owner, has requested zoning and developmental variances for a developer that wants to buy the land and build a 9,000-square-foot multi-tenant building. The small new neighborhood center would house two restaurants and two stores.

Only two businesses are allowed on the site under existing commercial zoning standards. Parking variances are also requested for the project.

Shoppers and diners would be able to access the new building from Main Street as well as the existing access drive used by Meijer shoppers.

Potbelly would be located on the south side of the building and the 2,400-square-foot restaurant would offer a drive-through.

Just a few months ago, the Chicago-based restaurant company decided against opening inside the former Hooters restaurant building on nearby Day Road.

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Potbelly and Qdoba planned for new Mishawaka center