Mid-1980s pizza place on Green

[Norbert]

I was at UIUC mid-late 80s. There was a pizza place (eat in, carry out, delivery) further west on Green (than Murphy's and O'Malleys) that was a little more "upscale". They had a deal on Sunday nights - something like $8 for a thick crust pizza with tons of cheese. Much better than the Pizza World-esque stuff. What was the name of that place?? Thanks...

 

[BananaShampoo]

Maybe it was the Garcia's that used to be over on Green (I think right near 4th St)?

 

[bdutts]

I was at UIUC mid-late 80s. There was a pizza place (eat in, carry out, delivery) further west on Green (than Murphy's and O'Malleys) that was a little more "upscale". They had a deal on Sunday nights - something like $8 for a thick crust pizza with tons of cheese. Much better than the Pizza World-esque stuff. What was the name of that place?? Thanks...

You mean Papa Del's?

 

[BananaShampoo]

You mean Papa Del's?

That location didn't have a dining room until 1989, though. It was only take out and delivery at that location until then (their original dining room location was on Wright Street from 1970 until 1994).

 

[South Farms]

That location didn't have a dining room until 1989, though. It was only take out and delivery at that location until then (their original dining room location was on Wright Street from 1970 until 1994).

you are correct. the Dels on Green from 1979-1983 was an old house/joint for pick up and delivery only

The Garcias over there near the White Horse is probably what hes talking about

 

[Norbert]

Nope. It wasn't Garcia's. And come to think of it - it may not have been on Green. But it was close. I'll come up with it eventually, it's just annoying the hell out of me trying to remember.

 

[Norbert]

Upon further reflection, it had to have been Papa Del's. Thanks everyone.

 

[BWBW]

Perhaps Mr. Peabody will dust off the Wayback machine, Norbert, and take you along for a visit?

 

[Norbert]

Perhaps Mr. Peabody will dust off the Wayback machine, Norbert, and take you along for a visit?

I'm up for it. That pizza was great!

 

[logjam]

8$ for a papa dels, I'll take the wayback machine.

 

[MainelyIllini]

Giordano's?

 

[BWilson25]

Now I want La Bamba

 

[dbeaverfg]

Now I want La Bamba

I want to sit in Treno's with a pitcher of beer and eat popcorn.

 

[Deleted member 333]

Little Willies thick and cheesy at the Illini Inn was my fav.

 

[logjam]

I was thinking Willie's Thick an Cheesie, Trenos, or Tritos. Was it square 9×9 and kinda like Jets Pizza? Trenos also had good grinders.

 

[orange100]

Can't recall the name of it but, there was a pizza place in the strip mall just east of the viaduct at Green and Neil in the early 2000's (not Gumbys, but same strip mall) that made deep dish with a top crust, like Papa Dels. They had a meat lovers called the heart attack. Incredible pizza. During the Self era, I used to order that one and re-watch games I'd had to record on the VCR when I got home late from work.

 

[GilThorpe]

ah Pizza World
I lived in the six pack (Hopkins) in 1979. Can recall guys walking around looking for people to throw in a $1 for 2 slices at 11 at night
what crappy pizza - but not too long after that the owner of PW changed his stores to Dominos.

 

[dbeaverfg]

ah Pizza World
I lived in the six pack (Hopkins) in 1979. Can recall guys walking around looking for people to throw in a $1 for 2 slices at 11 at night
what crappy pizza - but not too long after that the owner of PW changed his stores to Dominos.

Lived in FAR, 76/77 would order Pizza World to someone else's room. The driver would show up, find out they didn't order and then sell it to us half price.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Little Willies thick and cheesy at the Illini Inn was my fav.

I liked Willie's pizza, but the best feature was they were open an hour later than everyone else. That came in handy many times after a long night of drinking

 

[DICKnaggie]

I liked Willie's pizza, but the best feature was they were open an hour later than everyone else. That came in handy many times after a long night of drinking

As a former late night pie guy who worked at Willies all through undergrad, Im glad you enjoyed it. I ate that pizza nearly every day and never got sick of it.

 

[Garydj1204]

I always liked Giovanni’s for stuffed pizza. It was located in the basement of the church just east of the Union. Good stuff. Mid-late 80s.

It was a nice change up from papa dels- my all time favorite.

I also enjoyed Garcia’s before they imploded and quality went down

 

[IllinoisssssssVarsity]

My wife loved the baked potato pizza from one world.

I once got the 30 inch pizza from Gumby’s just to see what it was like. That was a year of poor decisions

 

[EyeoftheIllini]

I worked at Papa Dels during college (house was still only pickup/delivery. Not a bad job except that if worked at house until closing bars were also closed. That meant rushing to a party before it ended to drink or drinking primarily with P-Dels people at somebody’s place. When doing the former, wasn’t uncommon for someone to enter the room I/we were in and ask is there pizza in here because of how our clothes smelled.

 

[Go Nats 88 Illini]

From the mid-80's...


This is not about pizza...and it has been a few years, but I think this was our rotation my sophomore year...not all of us would go every night, but some would go and we understood we would get punished any night we did not. I had to move out for the next year so I could graduate.

Monday - Quarter beers at ...thinking can't remember...South Wright Street just south of Green Street.
Tuesday - We would go to Urbana to one of the "freshman" bars. At that time, you could get into those at 18 and in Champaign it was 19. Two roommates' little sisters were freshman. There was also a place that had a Little Kings night special on Tuesday and we would go there.
Wednesday - Willie's - joined the mug club at some point.
Thursday - O’Malley’s Pub, cannot remember why but there was some Thursday night special.
Friday - Party somewhere (at times head to COD's or Kam’s to see what was going on early)
Saturday - every third week there was a party at the Leper House, every other week go for a meal (Alexander's Steak House, pool and fish sandwiches at...what was that place on Green - Deluxe? or just a simple meal at Steak and Shake).
Sunday - we would rest...

Now, while not about pizza, we would still often get pizza afterwards but we were not usually picky at that point. My favorite was always Garcia's on South Wright - not sure why. And it did not stay open after the bars, so it might be somthing before or during. Something sweet in the crust or sauce that made me like it. Once the "burritos the size of your head" place opened we went there a lot as well. There was some cheap Mexican place on Green open after the bars closed and we would stop in there from time-to-time as well. I think John's was in the name, but not sure.

And yes, I graduated...somehow.

 

[bdutts]

From the mid-80's...


This is not about pizza...and it has been a few years, but I think this was our rotation my sophomore year...not all of us would go every night, but some would go and we understood we would get punished any night we did not. I had to move out for the next year so I could graduate.

Monday - Quarter beers at ...thinking can't remember...South Wright Street just south of Green Street.
Tuesday - We would go to Urbana to one of the "freshman" bars. At that time, you could get into those at 18 and in Champaign it was 19. Two roommates' little sisters were freshman. There was also a place that had a Little Kings night special on Tuesday and we would go there.
Wednesday - Willie's - joined the mug club at some point.
Thursday - O’Malley’s Pub, cannot remember why but there was some Thursday night special.
Friday - Party somewhere (at times head to COD's or Kam’s to see what was going on early)
Saturday - every third week there was a party at the Leper House, every other week go for a meal (Alexander's Steak House, pool and fish sandwiches at...what was that place on Green - Deluxe? or just a simple meal at Steak and Shake).
Sunday - we would rest...

Now, while not about pizza, we would still often get pizza afterwards but we were not usually picky at that point. My favorite was always Garcia's on South Wright - not sure why. And it did not stay open after the bars, so it might be somthing before or during. Something sweet in the crust or sauce that made me like it. Once the "burritos the size of your head" place opened we went there a lot as well. There was some cheap Mexican place on Green open after the bars closed and we would stop in there from time-to-time as well. I think John's was in the name, but not sure.

And yes, I graduated...somehow.

O'Malley's was the only place that I knew of that had quarter beers and I think they did it on Sunday and Monday nights.

I seem to recall Cochrane's had a 3-2-1 night where they would have 3 Old Milwaukee or 2 Miller GD or one Beck's (or equivalent) for 3 bucks. Might have been on Thursday nights?

We would hit R&R on Friday for happy hour. 3 buck Miller Lite pitchers and quarter dogs. Can't beat that!

My dad loved Garcia's. He'd take a couple of pies home with him whenever he visited. There was one on First or Second and Green and they'd sell the whole pies.