While already having an established restaurant business for five years, Lou Bosser and Jeff Trebac wanted to expand their business and add another location.

After searching Pittsburgh and spotting a vacant space at 12 Smithfield St., they knew this place was for them.

Now, 20 years later, the employees of Peppi’s are still quickly preparing subs and other favorites on the griddle for hungry customers.

“I always get to meet new people all of the time,” said Bosser, a Pittsburgh native and owner, when asked his favorite thing about his job.

Being one of four Peppi’s locations in the area, the Smithfield Street restaurant serves favorites, like the cheese steak, to visitors of downtown Pittsburgh.

The company got its start after Bosser and Trebac, childhood friends, carried out their plans for a business. Some patrons of the shop have called the original Peppi’s, of North Side, an icon.

“Everyone that comes through Pittsburgh goes through here [Peppi’s],” said John DiMatteo, an Allegheny General Hospital employee and Greentree resident.

During DiMatteo’s first visit to Peppi’s Smithfield Street restaurant, he mentioned that his favorite thing on the menu is the turkey and ham sandwich, known as the deli delight, and noted that he enjoyed the bread.

Peppi’s prides itself with the bread used to make its sandwiches, Mike and Dave’s Italian Bread, having it mentioned on the front of the restaurant’s menu, which also features their most popular sub, the RoethlisBurger.

“It is one of the biggest [subs] made. It pretty much took off. You only get one of those in a lifetime,” Bosser said, adding that the sandwich became famous on ESPN and stemmed from what one customer, Chuck Mahla, ordered for lunch daily.

The sub consists of a burger juggernaut, a sausage, egg and American cheese. It was invented during the 2005 Steeler season, being named after quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. After being created, there was a rush of people from all over the world coming to try the sub, lasting about three weeks and was “unbelievable,” according to Bosser.

The atmosphere inside the sandwich shop and small dining room is one that welcomes visitors. Employee Matt Leib, a Philadelphia native, called the atmosphere friendly. Leib, a freshman cinema and digital arts major at Point Park University, also admitted that though his friends do not agree with him, the Pittsburgh cheese steaks are better than those he eats at home. Patrick Linberg, a fellow employee of Leib’s, mentioned that the environment at Peppi’s is suitable for college students.

“I came here before I worked here, and they were nice to students. I know a bunch of my friends come here all of the time,” Linberg, a freshman cinema and digital arts major, said.

Both Leib and Linberg, along with many customers, mentioned that the pricing of Peppi’s food is reasonable, with student discounts available also. Bosser said that if a student came into his sub shop, they could get 20 percent off with an ID or $1.50 off of an Italian or cheese steak sub, fry and drink combo.

The feedback given from customers is positive, as Bosser said that he hears customers asking to keep the atmosphere friendly and food reasonably priced. DiMatteo seemed to echo this thought.

“It’s good quality food. [You’re] guaranteed good food every time,” said DiMatteo, a seven-year patron of Peppi’s.

Peppi’s on Smithfield is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to place an order, call (412) 281-1510.