Avanti’s, a breakfast-and-lunch fixture in Erie since 1975, has a new owner.
And the new owner, who took possession of the property on May 6, plans to continue the restaurant’s traditions, maintain the menu and retain its staff.
That means menu staples such as pierogies, eggs benedict and corned beef hash aren’t going anywhere, said Jasmine Almeida, a Canadian native who paid $232,000 for the building and the business at 1662 W. Eighth St.
Avanti’s, located at 1662 W. Eighth St., opened in 1975.
That continuity didn’t seem like a sure thing when previous owner Mark McCain put the business up for sale last summer.
It was the building that was for sale, although continuing to run Avanti’s was an option, said Jack Munch, a vice president of Baldwin Brothers Inc., which listed the property.
It was an option that made sense to Almeida, who in April launched Erie Seniors Magazine, a full-gloss print magazine aimed at the region’s senior community.
“I felt like there was some synergy there,” said Almeida, a marketing professional and mother of three who serves as an Erie Ambassador with the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership.
In some cases, the people who read the magazine might also be the people who come in for breakfast, she said.
Keeping the restaurant just made sense.
“It felt like a different kind of community service,” she said.
Almeida, who has a background in business and marketing, is quick to acknowledge she’s not a chef.
She explains in an online post: “I know good food. I know good vibes. I know good marketing. And I know good community.”
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Almeida, who paid $2,000 more than the asking price for the property, took ownership of all the restaurant’s fixtures and equipment as part of the deal.
“I think it’s a plus for the seller that she’s going to continue to run it,” Munch said. “It’s a plus for the employees and the people who like to visit Avanti’s. It was really what the seller was hoping for.”
Former owner Mark McCain holds a mortgage on the property for $182,000.
Almeida doesn’t plan to tinker much with the menu that’s heavy on breakfast, sandwiches and salads. But she does have one change in mind. After years of serving only breakfast and lunch, she’s planning at some point to add dinner service on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Almeida, who does business as Presque Isle Property Holdings LLC, said she believes her quarterly publication and the restaurant can help market one another.
“I think it’s a great opportunity,” she said.
Contact Jim Martin at jmartin3@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie restaurant Avanti’s has new owner who plans to keep menu staples