HR0358 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0358 LRB102 18695 ECR 27163 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 1966, Guido and Albert Zeller established Avanti's restaurant on Main Street in Peoria adjacent to Bradley University; and

WHEREAS, Following the success of the Avanti's near Bradley's campus, Guido and Albert decided to open a second Avanti's restaurant on the west edge of the Illinois State University (ISU) Campus in Normal in June of 1971; and

WHEREAS, Avanti's quickly became an institution for Illinois State University students and faculty; returning ISU students and staff, as well as Normal residents who have moved away, often choose it as the place they want to eat and bring their friends and family; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, Guido bought his brother Albert's share and became the sole proprietor; Guido's brother Leo joined the operation in 1976 and became an integral part of the business; and

WHEREAS, Guido and his wife Anna lived in Normal and raised their four children, Marcus, Richard, Maria, and Judy; they are all involved in the business and live in the area; Guido became a U.S. citizen in the late 70s; he was very proud of his dual citizenship and attributed much of his success to the opportunities available to him in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Guido generously supported his Catholic faith through Epiphany Church and School; Epiphany Elementary named their playground "Guido's Grounds"; and

WHEREAS, Today, Guido's two sons, Marcus and Richard, are involved in the ownership and management of Avanti's; in June of 2009, they opened a Bloomington location on East Empire; and

WHEREAS, Albert retired in 2018, and his son Stefan became majority owner and President and CEO of the five Avanti's Italian Restaurants in Peoria, East Peoria, and Pekin, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Avanti's continues Guido's generous tradition of giving back to the community; the Special Olympics, the Baby Fold, the American Cancer Society, and the ISU Scholarships Foundation are just a few of the many charitable organizations it supports, and it partners with many local schools and churches in fundraising throughout the year with sales of its signature bread and Gondola sandwich; and

WHEREAS, This year, Avanti's is celebrating a landmark 50th anniversary in central Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate and thank the Zeller family for 50 years of great food and outstanding public service to the Peoria, Pekin, and Bloomington-Normal communities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Zeller family as a symbol of our esteem and respect.