Flashback: Avanti's

[tornado]

Anyone who went to Bradley in the 60's thru the 2000's knows Avanti's, but those who went to BU between the 60's and 80's recall the original Avanti's on the southwest corner of Main & University before the original rebuild of the Main/University intersection and the formation of Campustown. That's when Avanti's relocated across the street on the northwest corner of the intersection.

Here's a story about the history of Avanti's

http://www.pjstar.com/special/20160827/once-college-hangout-avantis-has-grown-to-five-sites-in-central-illinois

Avanti's has always been a great supporter and sponsor of Bradley Athletics and BU Basketball...not to mention they have pretty good food.
But I miss the Monday night - $1 all-you-can-eat spaghetti deals they used to have - how many remember that??
We used to chow down 4 or 5 full plates for a buck but they had us hooked.

[Da Coach]

My best memory- the dorms served only 20 meals each week. They did not serve a meal Sunday night, so students were on their own for that meal. Avanti's and LaHood's Pizza across the street (long gone) were the favorite places for dorm students to get a cheap meal. It didn't take long to figure out the $1.00 size pizza at LaHoods or the $1.00 meatball sandwich with 4 massive oversized meatballs were the most food you could get for the money.

Occasionally I'd go in with a group of others to share a couple large pizzas, but then your share depended only on how fast you could eat. I was not nearly as fast an eater as the other guys, so I didn't do that very often.

[PhiAlphaBoy]

I miss the Monday night - $1 all-you-can-eat spaghetti deals they used to have - how many remember that??
We used to chow down 4 or 5 full plates for a buck but they had us hooked.

Good times my friend. We'd head over there on Sundays with a gang and have all you can eat spaghetti contests. One friend ate so much, so fast that he essentially passed out.

[LongTimeFan]

Never attended Bradley full time. However, we used to park on campus, walk to Avantis, eat, and then walk to the field house for the games. I miss those days. I should say this was in the days we could park on campus for the games.

[Southside]

Avantis

Lived on University 6 or 7 doors down from Avantis. We would stroll down a little before closing, if they had phone orders that no one picked up we could buy them for dirt cheap. On Sundays, after drinking all Saturday night at The Lady and Sullys, me and my 7 roommates would order Avantis and have it delivered. **** we were lazy!

Still to this day, 5-6 times a year I drive the 2.5 hours to Peoria just to get Avantis.

[Da Coach]

That is dedication. We occasionally tried the same thing with asking about unclaimed orders. sometimes you got a pizza with toppings you would not order for yourself, but the half price made up for it.
I still try that trick occasionally when I'm in a hurry and need a quick meal to take home. If I am driving past a pizza restaurant, I'll drop in and ask if there are any orders not claimed. It often works!