I have been looking for this for years! There was a Greek hotdog place in Pennsylvania that was called NICKS and made this sauce back in the 50's to the 90's. Thank you so much it taste nearly the same if not maybe equal.

Located along highway near Reynoldsville.

I grew up in DuBois, Pa... in fact just up the street (Church Street) from the Maple Leaf on Long Avenue. The Maple Leaf memories will be forever of my Grandmother (Grank) and I hanging out eating two hot dogs each with Nick's special meat sauce. When the craving hit Grank, there was nothing that was going to get in her way of those Nick's Dogs. After college I moved west and have tried numerous times attempting to recreate Nick's sauce with no success. On a random whim while in the Google rabbit hole, I searched "Maple Leaf, Dubois PA, Nick's Hot Dog Sauce"... and this came up, I read the recipe and thought "there is no way... just no way"... today I bought all the ingredients and cooked, and reduced then tasted... floods of memories came back of my Grank and I sitting at the Maple Leaf, in our favorite booth (two in from the door) under a radio on the wall eating our two hot dogs with meat sauce and splitting a basket of fries.

Grank has passed on, but this memory can now be rekindled accurately with this recipe.
Thank you for posting a recipe that I will forever cherish.

Hey I lived in Dubois myself for many years and had those hotdogs many times. I loved FRANKS pizza as well even have some shipped to Georgia sometimes. I use to work WITH A Joel Faust O-I machine shop. Do you know him? Really glad you found the recipe. I know I was when I found it. TAKE CARE

Hi Mike. I went to school with you and can assure you that this is truly Nick's recipe. My grandmother made the sauce for Nick to sell. You could also buy the space in small jars that sat on the counter at Louie Sackandy's "Maple Leaf Restaurant" on long avenue. I have made the sauce using this recipe since the 1970's. Enjoy it old friend!

Hey John thanks for the reply.

Hi Mike, I worked with a Tost guy at the DuBois airport in the 1970s (1976). Crown Airways. Owned by Brockway Glass. Was he your dad or other relation?

Yes Ray was my dad and I miss seeing him at the airport the many times I flew from there. He passed away in 1993

Lived in Dubois as well. my mom had a place up on Washington St. Loved Franks Pizza. I was really bummed when I heard it burned down years ago. Glad that some one reopened it next door to the original location. I hope to make it back up that way one of these days but I live in San Antonio now so its a long way to go for a slice of Heaven. lol

Grew up in Dubois too. My mom had a place up on Washington street many years ago. I don't remember the Maple Leaf. Where was it at? The place I would always go to get a dog was called the M&M café up on Long ave not far from Jared St. Man that brings back memories. Have a great one.

Can't wait to try this recipe! My aunt was the server at the Maple Leaf and then bought it. Ate there my whole life and loved Nicks sauce.

I grew up in DuBois in the 50s. Nick's Texas Hot Dog Shop was my Dad's and my favorite restaurant (the Maple Leaf was opened later by Nick's son). For a time you could buy Nick's Sauce in a dry mix packet that you combined with 2 1/3 cups of water and a 6 oz. can of tomato paste. (I still have two packets left). I made this recipe to see if it was the same. My assessment is that it is close, the color is right and the aroma is right, but ketchup is not the right base. It imparts a flavor that doesn't belong. When I make this recipe again, I'll use a combination of tomato sauce and tomato paste. I think the flavor will be much closer. I still believe that Nick's Sauce makes the best hot dog in the world!

Hello all, it was very fun reading through memories. I am the great grand son of Nick (his actual name was George but everyone called him Nick). My dad bought Nick's from my grandfather, and a few years later (also Tasty Pastry Donut Shop). My dad started bottling the sauce and for a time we sold it in all the major grocery stores from DuBois to Buffalo. I spent many hours bottling the sauce and labeling the bottles. When my Dad retired he continued to make spice pack for local stores. He stopped after a few years and the spice mix was not available. In 2006 my son in high school decided he would revive the business and sell the spice mix on the web. He ran that business until he left for college and passed it down to his brothers. When they went to school my wife decided to keep doing it just to honor my dad. She was not very consistent and I finely convinced her to give it up. She made friends with Martieno's in Brockway so she occasionally makes it for them. I still make and bottle the sauce for family and friends.

Here is the real recipe which I broke down to a workable volume so all our family could make it.

I have 8 different recipes and ketchup was not included in any.

Thank you.

Unfortunately this is not the recipe for Nicks Sauce. My father owned the Maple Leaf restaurant and bottled the sauce. In later years, he sold the mix in packets for people to make at home. We did have some grandkids that kept the packets going for a while but they have all become too busy. Once I retire maybe I will consider reviving them again. This may be a very tasty recipe but suggest changing the title to have "copycat" or "similar to" so folks are not confused this is identical to the real sauce.

I have loved reading all the posts. You were so fortunate to have enjoyed this. Am going to break down amounts and attempt to fix.
Also clicked on the original site listed - and posted by Mark Vargas. Wish me luck. I am 82 years old - and have "always" loved hot dogs. Hope I am able to enjoy this - as much as each of you have.