<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-12-18</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001040899</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nierenberg David</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>19605 NE 8TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98607</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isTenPercentOwner>true</isTenPercentOwner>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001282683</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nierenberg Investment Management Company, Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>19605 NE 8TH ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98607</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isTenPercentOwner>true</isTenPercentOwner>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>true</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2024-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1590</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1590</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Children</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2024-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3150</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.34</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3150</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 4 is filed jointly by Nierenberg Investment Management Company, Inc. and David Nierenberg. Nierenberg Investment Management Company (&quot;NIMCO&quot;) is the sole general partner of The D3 Family Fund, LP, The D3 Family Bulldog Fund, LP, and the Benedict Value Fund, LP and the sole investment manager of Haredale Ltd. (collectively, the &quot;Funds&quot;). Mr. Nierenberg is the president of NIMCO. By virtue of these relationships, each of the Reporting Persons may be deemed to beneficially own the securities owned directly by the Funds.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Owned by children living in reporting person's household.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Owned by spouse.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Mr. Nierenberg disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein as beneficially owned directly by his spouse and son except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that Mr. Nierenberg is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nierenberg Investment Management Company, Inc.
By: /s/ David Nierenberg
David Nierenberg, President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-12-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Nierenberg
David Nierenberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-12-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
