DeKALB | On Dec. 11, DeKalb will officially welcome another addition to the campus sandwich industry.

Potbelly Sandwich Works will open its doors next to Chipotle, 1013 W. Lincoln Highway.

With the addition of Potbelly, NIU students and DeKalb residents have an array of sandwich shops to choose from: Rammy’s Sub Contractors, Subway, Varsity Subs, Quizno’s and Jimmy John’s.

Colleen Madeya, local store marketer for Potbelly, promises the best food, people and atmosphere. Many wonder if such promises are too much for neighboring sandwich shops to compete with.

“It’s [nerve-racking] having Potbelly across the street,” said Mary Davis, manager of Quizno’s Subs. “I’m kind of worried. Of course, with every new restaurant, it’s popular at first. Everyone wants to go to a new place.”

Despite Davis’ worries, other shops remain — or at least claim to remain — unfazed.

“It’s going to be a friendly competition,” said Kristin MacDougall, general manager of Rammy’s Sub Contractors. “Potbelly is our biggest competitor, but we’re not worried at all.”

Bob Katzel, new owner of Varsity Subs, agrees.

“There’s enough people here for everybody,” Katzel said. “I can’t keep someone from opening up. I can’t worry about it.”

Madeya is not worried about Potbelly coming into an established sandwich market.

“Competition is a good thing,” Madeya said. “If other stores are busy, then we should be too. Students know about us.”