Best Pizza Joint

[tornado]

Hey -- I dragged out this old pizza thread...wondered how many people saw this story on AGATUCCI'S PIZZA?

A couple weeks ago the owners of Agatucci's Pizza became sorta cult heroes and legends..

They weren't going to let a punk and thug take what they had worked for and they outsmarted the guy..

here's several stories including a Luciano column..

http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1485353695/Agatuccis-owners-recount-armed-robbery-attempt

http://www.pjstar.com/news/x291610559/Robbery-at-Pizza-parlor-foiled

http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1621194237/Luciano-The-pizza-is-served-with-a-side-of-bravery

BUT -- if you do a google search -- you find that this story went viral and became talked about worldwide...
blogs and message boards lit up - most supporting the Peoria restauantiers!

-some said it was stupid for the Agatucci's to pull a gun because they would maybe have a higher chance of getting into a gunfight and getting shot themselves

-some said that they might have violated the robber's civil rights, since he probably wasn't going to kill them, thus they were unjustified in using potential deadly force with a gun.
After all -- if they were only trying to defend themselves, then why did they chase the guy down the street?

Even our pansy locals said you ought not do this...

http://www.1470wmbd.com/pages/8634364.php?

-but most of the sane people said "Thanks guys" and "Bravo" for standing up with bravery and honor and doing it with dignity-- and taking a stand against thugs.

http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2010/11/there-are-lots-of-good-people-and.html

http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=42443

Either way -- it's a great story and kudos to the Agatucci's. I am proud to live in the same city as these guys!

[ph]

Awesome story, and great end result.

But, yes, the right advice is obey demands and don't fight back.

They should have a sign "my pistol is named 'cash drawer' and my rifle is named 'safe' and my bullets are named 'cash' and 'money'.
Don't ask me for any of them."

[Braves4Life]

Great story tornado. That was one of my favorite pizza joints when I lived back there.

Kudos to the Agatucci's!

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

Why is there no love for Pizza Works? Pizza Works should NOT be combined with Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut is low level, mass produced, synthetic garbage. Works has the best deep dish pizza in the area, although there's not a lot of competition. It's actual Chicago-style pizza. If you like ultra thin crust pizza, then it's probably not for you.

Combining Pizza Works with Pizza Hut is like combining McDonald's and Alexander's because they both serve cooked meat. Pizza Hut does not belong in any serious discussion of top pizza places and should only be compared with other fast-food chain pizza places (Domino's, Papa Johns, Little Caesars) in the same way that McDonald's should not be compared in any best burger discussion.

Elicia's (followed closely by Imo's) is the worst pizza I've ever eaten and should only be used for the smiting of one's enemies. So sayeth The Flying Spaghetti Monster and so it has been written!

[tornado]

hey -- no pizza is garbage!!!

Anyway -- Pizza Works still has some loyal following but to many who have lived and eaten in Peoria for decades, there's still the remembrance of a public health issue there that shut down Pizza Works several years ago and their location & reputation have never fully recovered.

[Chico]

They should go to shooting range to improve their aim.

[Dallas Brave]

This incident brought back memoires of an awful event outside a legendary Italian restaurant in Dallas called Campisi's.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-07-08/sports/1991189041_1_palermo-campisi-waitresses

American League Baseball Umpire chased down a mugger and was shot. He ended up paralyzed from the bullet as it hit his spinal cord. He has regained a lot of movement, but is still seriously disabled.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Palermo

[dogsrus]

While in Charleston (my other halfs hometown) I took in a place called paglias (sp) they refer to it as "Pauli Eye's".....when in MY hometown the choice is Angelo's.

We argue as to who has the best. I STILL like my home pizza but its probably becuase its what I grew up on....

Both are great though.....

[tornado]

I think everyone also remembers the multipart series of "Vigilante" movies,
but there are those who say if you DARE use a weapon to defend yourself, then you, too are a vigilante,
and if cops allow people to do this kind of thing they are encouraging vigilante-ism...

This case in Chicago prompted lots of calls to charge this store clerk with MURDER!!! ..and of course the self-serving activists tried to make it into a case of racism and denial of civil rights...

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Toothpaste-Costs-Shoplifter-His-Life-93264974.html

http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-7792-rush-seeks-justice-for-man-killed-at-cvs-store.html

but you know what -- if I saw an crook (armed or not) on one side of the street and one of the Agatucci's with a gun on the other side -- I'd have no trouble deciding what side I want to stay on...

[CubbieBear]

Not Angelo's in Rock Falls I had my first (il)legal beer at that place

[dogsrus]

Not Angelo's in Rock Falls I had my first (il)legal beer at that place

Thats the one.....I say Sterling and there IS one in both places but RF is better. Older ovens.

[jrish12]

While in Charleston (my other halfs hometown) I took in a place called paglias (sp) they refer to it as "Pauli Eye's".....when in MY hometown the choice is Angelo's.

We argue as to who has the best. I STILL like my home pizza but its probably becuase its what I grew up on....

Both are great though.....

Dogs, we have a Pagliais here in Kirksville. It is TERRIBLE, only positive is that they deliver till 2 AM after a few adult beverages

When I am back in Peoria there are 2 things that I have to do:

1. Eat at Avantis
2. Eat real pizza that isnt a chain. I dont think I could narrow it to one favorite in Peoria. Aggies, Monicals, Double A's, Firehouse, Avantis, Leonardos are all really good. Double A's lunch buffet is amazing with pasta, salad, wings, baked potato bar, and of course pizza.

Penguin was always really good, but when they closed and TNT tried to revive it, they made the crusts pre-made so they dont taste as fresh.

I saw someone said they had the pizza at the fieldhouse: Is it the same pizza from when Gormans was there? Because Gormans had some pretty good 'za!

[jasonpeoria911]

Yep, heard the incident on the scanner. It's surprising because most of the Agatucchi family workers are older and wouldn't think they be packing some heat. Although, they did kind of shoot recklessly outside in pitch dark lol. I was fairly surprised that it made it on CNN TV 1 afternoon. Been many other employee gun robbery incidents before that didn't make the national news.

On a side note, how bout that Orland Park (Suburban Chicago) shooting this weekend. Dude attempted to rob a LA Tan store when a customer wrestled his gun away and shot the perp to death. It just so turns out, the perps pickup matched the description from the "bumblebee" random serial shootings from this summer. They tested the ballistics and it matched. Turns out the guy lived near Champaign but decided to terrorize the Chicago area for some reason. Police initially charged an Off Duty Suburban Chicago Officer with the murders because he just happened to be driving a pickup in the area of one of the shootings. They had no real evidence other than that he couldn't provide a credible alibi. Eventually the Police searched his internet history/e-mail and found that he was alone at home on the computer at the time of the shooting.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/12/sources-gun-in-tanning-salon-robbery-used-in-honeybee-shootings.html

Jason

[tornado]

...the Police searched his internet history/e-mail and found that he was alone at home on the computer at the time of the shooting. ..

hmmm..that's a reason NOT to clear all your history & cookies!

[dogsrus]

Yep, heard the incident on the scanner. It's surprising because most of the Agatucchi family workers are older and wouldn't think they be packing some heat.

Dan and Tony aren't much older then 40 give or take........3 Italian guys running and eatery packing heat....nah

And as far as shooting into the night....Dan had a clear shot at the guy from 15 feet while IN the bar and would have been justified in doing so, but he held back....