Yesssssss! I lived in Chicago when there was only the original, single Potbelly's - which was not that long ago, and they were a college staple of mine. The sandwiches are good, the cookies are good, and the shakes (with a cookie on the straw) are fantastic.
By "earlier this year," you mean "12+ years ago," right?
10% off at Eden Alley and apparently 20% off at The Gap.
Those Fud chicken tacos are SO. GOOD. And greasy.
I'm not sure where to get them out in the world, but we make vegan ground-beef equivalent tacos at home nearly weekly. It's all my husband ever wants to eat.
As a vegan household in this town, I currently have to get around to 3 or 4 groceries stores (and/or farmers market) just to pick up our regular staples and try to get some decent produce. And while I am very happy to live a few blocks from Nature's Own, their selection is miniscule compared to hold foods - and their prices even higher. Whole Foods being in town will actually save us plenty of money.
Re: “Do you know a cool vegan?”
My husband is a cool vegan. Truth. Aside from being a cool guy, who's a vegan, I've never heard him complain about not being able to eat something at a restaurant, or not quietly assemble something that will work from a very limiting menu. But in a social circle filled with many vegans, I have to say that is the case for most of them. Like so many groups, a vocal minority gives the majority a bad wrap, and I definitely hear a lot more griping from meat eaters when they're confronted with the inability to order a hamburger at a vegetarian restaurant.