<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001724212-20-000003.txt : 20200626
<SEC-HEADER>0001724212-20-000003.hdr.sgml : 20200626
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200626114613
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001724212-20-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20200624
FILED AS OF DATE:		20200626
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200626

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Johnson Alan L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001724212

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-36104
		FILM NUMBER:		20992186

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 N. CANAL
		STREET 2:		SUITE 850
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POTBELLY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195734
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				364466837
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1230

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 N. CANAL
		STREET 2:		SUITE 850
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3129510600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 N. CANAL
		STREET 2:		SUITE 850
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-06-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001195734</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POTBELLY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PBPB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001724212</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Johnson Alan L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>111 N. CANAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 850</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-06-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>226244</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-05-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>226244</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>226244</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each performance stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Potbelly Corporation common stock. The performance stock units vest, if at all, in four equal installments upon Potbelly Corporation's common stock achieving four specified market price targets.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Awarded pursuant to the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Xuehui Cassie Zhang For: Alan Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-06-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
