Lawrence, maybe you really can have your buns of yesteryear. Wait, this is not me pitching my specially designed elliptical machine. (My attorney says I can never, ever sell one of those again.) Instead, I’m referring to talk of Schlotzsky’s — the sandwich shop known for its sourdough buns — making a return to Lawrence.

Perhaps some of you remember that there used to be a Schlotzsky’s in the Louisiana Purchase shopping center at 23rd and Louisiana several years ago. Well, it sure looks like Schlotzsky’s wants to come back to Lawrence.

Some renovation work is underway at the old Kentucky Fried Chicken location near Sixth and Wakarusa. If you remember, we reported KFC closed its west Lawrence location earlier this year. An alert reader has let me know that a vehicle wrapped in Schlotzsky’s logos has been parked outside the business at various times during the renovation work.

That indeed is a good sign that Schlotzsky’s plans to return to Lawrence, said Bart Hastert, a co-owner of two Schlotzsky’s locations in Olathe and Overland Park. Hastert said he hasn’t yet signed a deal for the Wakarusa Drive site that formerly housed KFC. Hastert said that location, along with locations at 23rd and Iowa and in the Bauer Farm development near Sixth and Wakarusa are under consideration. Hastert said his company already has signed a deal with Schlotzsky’s corporate offices to open three to five new stores in the near future.

“Lawrence is definitely in our sights,” he said.

Schlotzsky’s probably has been gone from Lawrence for about five years, and there’s been a major change since then. The chain has signed deals with dessert companies Cinnabon and Carvel ice cream to open mini-stores inside Schlotzsky’s. Hastert said the Lawrence store definitely would have the Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, and he said he would like to win corporate approval to have an ice cream brand in the store as well.

As for what Schlotzsky’s is offering these days, it is still a shop known for its sandwiches. The restaurant’s calling card has been a sandwich it calls The Original, which features multiple cheeses, salamis, ham, marinated black olives, a signature dressing and a toasted sourdough bun. That’s the sandwich that got the chain started 40 years ago as a small shop in Austin.

Today, the menu also includes about two dozen other sandwiches all served on either sourdough, rye, jalapeño cheese or other types of fresh-baked buns. The restaurant also includes, soups, salads, artisan flatbreads and several flavors of 10-inch pizzas.

Hastert said he hopes to sign a deal for a Lawrence location soon. His company already has signed a deal to open a new store in Liberty, Mo., and he wants Lawrence to be his next location.

“We’re on a time crunch already,” said Hastert, who did not own the previous Lawrence franchise. “I think folks will welcome us back to town.”

In other news and notes from around town:

• A Lawrence executive is heading to the White House for a special business event. Ben Smith, the director of social and emerging media for Lawrence-based Callahan Creek, will be representing Kansas at a White House event related to the National Week of Making.

The event is one that highlights the power of teaching and fostering innovation both in education and the business community. Smith has been recognized both locally and nationally for his efforts to empower creative thinking, including his work to create ConfabuLarryum, Lawrence’s Festival of Making and Creativity. The event is held in conjunction with the Lawrence school district, which uses it to showcase innovative projects produced by students.

Smith will be at the White House on Friday for a special meeting of individuals around the country who are involved in the maker movement. Smith also will be in Washington, D.C., for the National Maker Fair that is set for Saturday.