Bunny Matthews cartoon, in reference to the
letter above, from the Times-Picayune:

Clovis and Bennie Martin, inventors of the po-boy...
"Hey, Clovis, here comes another poor boy!!"

Sign reads: "On strike, streetcar union division 194."
Martin Brothers Restaurant
I'm indebted to Darryl Martin for sharing these images with us, mementoes from the long history of
Martin Bros. Restaurant.  Darryl's two g-uncles, Bennie and Clovis Martin, ran the restaurant for
many years, beginning in 1921.  It was first located in the French Quarter and later moved to St.
Claude Avenue.  Darryl's father, Alex "Red" Martin," managed it until it closed in 1972.

The Martin brothers were the originators of the po-boy sandwich (first called "poor boy," changing
over the years to come to be known as "po-boy").  They asked the folks at John Gendusa Bakery to
make the first poor boy loaf, so they would have a better size bread to make a sandwich on.  Before
that, it was made on bread the normal shape of French bread.
The articles above and below are from the New Orleans Tribune,
dated Friday, August 9, 1940.  The article above reads:

"Three meals a day for several hundred soldiers and officers (including some of a medical regiment)
quartered at Jackson Barracks here have been prepared for some time by the Martin Brothers, Inc.
restaurant at 2000 St. Claude Avenue, corner of Touro Street.  Besides caring for the regular
customers with faultless service, B. B. "Benny" Martin, president of the firm, gave this big task of
preparing the meals for the soldiers his personal supervision.  "The menu they gave us each day called
for excellent meals.  The quality of the food had to be the best, for the army demands the best," Mr.
Martin stated.  "I have been on the job from 2 o'clock in the morning until 6 in the evening, seeing that
everything was entirely satisfactory.  We had to prepare the food and turn it over to the army truck
drivers and men so hot that it would be just right when it was served at the barracks."  One of the army
trucks used for this work is pictured above.  The Martin Brothers, Inc. restaurant --"Originators of Poor
Boy Sandwiches"--has on previous occasions during the past several years fed between 125 and 130
soldiers in its main dining room when they were passing through the city."
The article above reads:

"The choicest cattle that money can buy are obtained at the New Orleans Stock Yards by Martin Bros.,
Inc., leading New Orleans restaurant, at St. Claude Avenue and Touro Street.  Some of the 22 steers
recently bought by Martin Brothers through Louis G. Heier, well known Arabi commission man, are
shown in the above photograph.  Martin Brothers, Inc. never buy less than 10 or 12 head of beef cattle
at a time, buying for each and obtaining the best beef that comes on the market.  Every department of
Martin Brothers is open for inspection by the public at all times.  During the 19 years Martin Brothers
has served the people of New Orleans with good things to eat, a record has been established in
cleanliness.  Martin Brothers first were at the French Market, pioneering in the preparation of "Poor
Boy" sandwiches, which were destined to help make New Orleans famous.  Martin Brothers "Poor
Boy" sandwiches are one of the sights of the town as well as one of the most delicious things to eat
ever served in New Orleans, a city world famous for good food.  Martin Brothers hams, bacon and
other packing house products come almost exclusively from Swift and company, one of the great
packing houses in the world.  Throughout the 19 years Martin Brothers has served sandwiches, short
orders and plate lunches to the New Orleans people, thousands and thousands of friends have been
made.  So popular indeed has Martin Brothers become that a parking lot, across Touro street from the
restaurant, was acquired for the convenience of customers.  Stop today and every day at Martin
Brothers for good things to eat."
Offer of help during the famous strike of 1929:  Letter from Clovis and Bennie Martin to the striking streetcar
union members, division 194, New Orleans, August 6, 1929.
If you have a picture of Martin Bros. Restaurant, Darryl would be
grateful if you would share a copy of it with him!  E-Mail Darryl Martin
Grand opening ad, Martin and Son, Toulouse and Decatur Streets;
Clovis Martin, Proprieter, Charles Mangano, Manager, Ferdinand Dunne, Purchasing Agent.
Above and below, Martin Bros. Restaurant, Chef Menteur Hwy., 1950's
If you click on the menu below, you'll see this entire Martin's menu.  I don't know the date,
but Filet Mignon was $2.25 and Seafood Platter was $2.00 - I wouldn't mind having those
prices back!  Thanks to Darryl Martin for sharing the menu; it was courtesy of Michael B. Lynch.