Today’s news: Buying retail
Links via the Journal Star:
- Avanti’s Italian Restaurant is expanding in central Illinois with new locations planned in Peoria and Bloomington. My two cents: Two new locations for sucky food and mediocre service.
- For a tiny little burg, the school district in London Mills sure generates a lot of news and controversy.
- News of a new owner for Sheridan Village prompted a bit of history in Peoria retail. My two cents: I cannot think of the last time I shopped at The Village. Oh, wait, I remember. It was to buy a thing for my phone at Radio Shack. I spent two bucks. Good luck making that place hip.
- My two cents: For the love of God, no one mention the Peoria Civic Center at tonight’s city council meeting. I don’t wanna have to listen to John Morris go on again about the money that he thinks gets dumped into the Peoria economy every time someone holds an event at the place. I’m scared the Bradley University’s NIT game tomorrow will spur a speech that will extend the meeting by at least 10 minutes.
- In an operation worthy of James Bond, some person or person conspired to leave a racially insensitive message scrawled on the mirror of a bathroom at the
Holiday Inn City CenterHotel Pere Marquette. This message was written so that it would be visible only when the hot water was turned on in the bathroom of the room, generating steam. My two cents: The evil geniuses must have been planning this crime for weeks. No doubt there will be much handwriting and apology making. But the good news is no one is (officially) saying that the whole thing is bogus. Because that never happens.
NOTE: My apologies for the error.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
The sad thing is a few years ago those would have been fighting words. But now I’d have to say your right.
So, Billy, the definition of making a shopping center hip is to get YOU to shop there?
That goes without saying.
Hip = Billy? I’m with Jonathan! Hip does not equal Billy.
I like Avanti’s and Sheridan Village. And my family shops at Bergners pretty regularly. And I eat at the Hi Ho Mongolian Grill for lunch every couple of weeks. And I bank at CEFCU there. And when people move away from Peoria, one thing they crave that they can’t find anywhere else is Avanti’s bread. I think you’re way off base on this one, Billy.
Maybe Billy prefers more upscale Italian fair like say…. Fazoli’s?
Billy, I am so glad that someone else in Peoria agrees with me about Avantis!
You get better food from Chef-Boy-Ar-Dee.
I like Avanti’s Gondolas and Pizza, not to mention I can motor my bike over there (as long as I bring a lock). The rest of the food blows, in my opinion. I wish LaGondola would move into CampusTown.
BJ Aberle is a big fan too…
http://oneproblem.blogspot.com/2007/03/inconvenient-truthfor-central.html
I grew up around Sheridan Village, but I have no reason to visit there anymore- though I have been known to frequent Ponte Vecchio.
Mmm… I’m getting hungry for a half-deluxe.
Mmmmm Gondolas….
Remember the ad that they had
Avanti’s Italian Restaurant, a bit of old Italy
…and oh yeah, Journal Star sold to GateHouse Media…
Avanti’s food is good for the money. For a small price you can have a pretty good meal. Mmmmmmm, and the bread!
Also, living not too far from Sheridan Village, I hope they do get some new stores into the center, and update the place a little. We sure don’t need any more CA$H LOAN $TORE’s around here.
or cellphone stores or nail & hair places or insurance agents….
Geez… I just had to take my work laptop over to the FedEx store at Univeristy Plaza. Upon pulling out onto University (the light at Florence), and looked over, I realized now that TITLEMAX has moved in where Ethnic Foods used to be. Place looks big. Anyone interested, bad credit and bankruptcy are OK! Cash Stores seem to be the growing industry around here.
I jinxed myself yesterday as I didn’t realize yet ANOTHER cash store has moved in to the neighborhood. Not a good sign, as there are about 4-5 of those things between Forrest Hill and War Memorial on University now…..
OK for one thing, the racial slur happened at the Pere not the Holiday Inn. I haven’t eaten inside an Avanti’s since they were in their old place on Main. (acroos the street) I use to order from them for delivery but that stopped because I never ever got the right order. They either forgot something or they sent the wrong order completely. I gave up when I got pineapple pizza. FEH
Avanti’s is Chef Boy R Dee
Sheridan Village was the coolest place when I was a kid. They had that huge sign that was xx feet tall that was designed by William Hardin (of Hardin Signs) on the corner of Lake and Sheridan. Santa Clause always arrived by helicopter and the Easter bunny was always there at Easter time. Kresge’s and Krogers were there as was the Scandia restraurant upstairs in Bergner’s. I hope they can save the place as I too, grew up next to it.
They sold the PJS???
Link to Stormin’ Norman’s comment
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/031307/TRI_papersold.php
Now I’ve got that Sheridan Village Christmas jingle stuck in my head. They used to play that thing over and over and over, back in the days.
“Christmas shopping at Sheridan Village is fun and easy too,
Stores are open till 9 each night, with loads of gifts for you.
Parking is free and Santa you’ll see, start shopping right away
At Sheridan Village wonderland, take your family out today!
Take your family out today!
Take your family out today!”
[fade out]
Totally agree on Avantis. LaGondola’s sandwiches are better, IMHO. Avantis pizza is good, though. Overall, very overrated in my book. Also, they forgot my drink on three straight delivery orders which crossed them off my list permanently.
I live by the Village so I’m looking forward to the changes.
Negro is not an epithet nor is it “racial insensitive”, WTFTI.
Someone is trying to get paid.
Jeezus, Von, read the story. It said the slur INCLUDED the word “negroes” (which, by the way IS insensitive to everyone but you, apparently), which means, duh, the REST of the slur could have been the most offensive part.
Let’s try this…if someone wrote “F— you, caucasian” on a hotel mirror, what part of that would be the most offensive?
I don’t know what was written on the Pere mirror, you don’t either, and personally, I don’t want to know.
Jeezus, Stoner, I did!
Not, it’s not. Only those looking to be offended should find it so.
The “F– you” part of course because Caucasian isn’t offensive just like Negro. Duh. Then again, I wouldn’t assume it was aimed at me.
And besides my money is on the whole thing being invented as a basis for gettin’ paid.
Italian is my absolute favorite cuisine, and I’m half Italian and have traveled to Italy three times in my life and am related to some excellent Italian cooks (this is that kind of group insularity I mentioned yesterday, btw). And I like Avanti’s. It’s not the best by any stretch but it’s far from the worst I’ve ever had.
The bread rocks! They definitely have better bread than plenty of Italian places I’ve eaten. But I have a big old sweet tooth, so….
Sheridan Village IS across the street from another large shopping center (Kroger, TJ Maxx, KMart, CiCi’s Pizza, etc) and this one is always busy. I know I’m there often as I get my dog’s nails clipped at the PetCo, LOVE TJ Maxx and my boys play hockey at the Owens Center/take swimming lessons at Lakeview Pool, love the kids library. Also, we get our dog’s food and fish stuff at SuperPets (my favorite pet store) and Shoe Carnival is my new favorite shoe store.
Also, I sometimes get the cheap pick up pizza at Little Caesar’s and get my kids shoes at the Stride Rite in that little strip mall. And my hubby can be found in the game store, Just For Fun (which I highly recommend for puzzles and games) which is kitty corner from the Papa Johns in that weird strip mall.
So an upgrade at Sheridan Village would compliment an already busy commercial district, IMHO. Better than another abandoned box near the center of town while they build a new strip mall/big box on the fringes of town that we all have to drive to. We have enough of those. I’m glad to see a centralized location upgraded. It’s in keeping with new urbanism, CJ, yes?
BTW -while we’re discussing restaurants…
ate at the recently re-opened Taste of Thai on Pioneer Pkwy last week. Good stuff! My second favorite cuisine. They didn’t have swimming rama on the menu though, which I was kinda craving. And until they get their liquor license – it’s bring your own, which was cool by me! I showed up with my six of Nut Brown ale. Although, I like Singha with my thai, so I’ll be glad when they get it.
Hmm. I think the written racial slur on the mirror at the Pere Marquette was fabricated. People, even ignorant people who think this way…typically don’t go out of their way with all the planning to have this happen. Did someone else see it? If a person actually reported it, rather than suck it up and save the embarassment…they probably made it up for attention. How do we know that this person just wanted attention or a free nights stay. Its bullshit, and I don’t see why it made the news…unless you catch someone-don’t make every person in Peoria..look bad or guilty- THAT..is just plain ignorant and hokey-pokey small town gossip garbage. Thats my 2 cents.
Seeing as Avanti’s is too plebian, could this be more to Billy’s upscale tastes?
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_073150337.html
Um… yum?