Leo’s Sub Shop has proven time and again that it has the recipe for a good, steady business. In the 11 years since they have opened, many people have come through the doors at 83 Main St. in Bradford. What keeps them coming back is the high quality, simple food served in an intimate, family atmosphere.

The business is owned and operated by the father and son team of Leo Martin and his son, Patrick, who recognized that there was a void in the marketplace that they knew they could fill.

“I worked at Zippo for many years and I knew that nobody in town could make a good sub,” Leo said with a chuckle.

In his youth, Leo had worked in a sub shop and enjoyed it. Patrick did the same. It seemed a natural evolution to open their business back in 2012.

“We knew, if we focused on keeping everything extremely fresh, high quality and consistent; we could make a go of it,” Leo said.

The other secret ingredient in the restaurant’s success is the friendly staff, who over the years have consisted of many members of the Martins’ family, in addition to other locals. That family-friendly energy is imparted to every meal they make and customers they serve.

“We make sure we greet everyone who comes in here. That type of attitude is what makes this place really shine,” he said.

The best part of the business for Leo is meeting all the new people who stop in.

“We really have to thank the people around here because without them, we wouldn’t be here,” Leo said.

“If I was a younger man, I would have three or four Leo’s Sub Shops,” he added.

Typically, the business keeps seven to eight employees. Their menu features lunch and dinner offerings which include pizza, wings, baskets and, of course, a huge variety of subs. There are more than two dozen subs to choose from and many ingredients can be mixed and matched.

“We’re not like a lot of other places in that we will customize anything. If we have it here, we’ll fix it for you,” Leo said.

The Martins go out of their way to find the freshest ingredients. They are always looking for vendors who can meet that need.

“Right now, we get our meat out of Buffalo. We really had to search and search to find that high quality we are after,” Leo said.

Their most popular sub is the Capone, which features real capicola, ham and salami.

“It’s a true, old-school Italian sub and people just love it. Once you have one you will come back for another, I guarantee it,” Leo said.