Serving Boston University students slices since the mid-1970s, the popular pizzeria located on the west end of BU’s campus wasn’t always T. Anthony’s and it didn’t always have feeding hungry college kids on its menu.
In the early ’60s, T. Anthony’s was a Greek restaurant called Arthur’s, owned by Matthew Anthony and his partner, Tsastsrones. After folding years later, the building was then occupied by several unsuccessful followers.
But when Joseph Rastellini and Stephen DiMarco bought the place in 1976 with plans to turn it into a pizzeria, they hit a gold mine.
“We wanted something that would appeal to students. In the ’70s there was nothing on the strip of Comm. Ave. stretching from the bend in the road to the BU Bridge that was open past 7 or 8 p.m. There was nowhere for the students to go, so we decided to stay open later,” Rastellini said.
T. Anthony’s, a name derived from a combination of the building’s original owners’ names, now closes at 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and 1 a.m. during the week. And their extended business hours pay off.
“It’s nice that it’s open late. I know that a lot of people go there after parties,” said Kelly Hendry, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore.
The cash register at T. Anthony’s confirms the popularity of late-night pizza.
Rastellini said although BU has a large impact on the pizzeria’s income, T. Anthony’s business only declines about 25 percent during the summer season. Heavy summer business allows few BU students to make it behind the counter, although some BU rugby players have worked for him in the past.
“I try to hire only one or two BU students because there is a steady summer business and we need a constant staff throughout the year,” he said.
Competion around T. Anthony’s has gotten heavy since the duo opened the restaurant, but some of that competition is friendly. Rastellini and DiMarco also own T’s Pub, which they opened in 1981 and is located near the pizzeria on the other side of Commonwealth Avenue. DiMarco takes care of most of the pub’s business, while the pizzeria is run by Rastellini.
“We have more athletes working at T’s Pub as bouncers or bartenders,” Rastellini said. “That’s a bit more glamorous than it is working over here.”
BU students may not be prevalent behind the counter at T. Anthony’s, but many have at least ventured into the restaurant to taste their goods.
“When we do get to go to T. Anthony’s, we enjoy it,” said CAS sophomores Liz Burt and Kim Smith, who both admitted that the long trek to West Campus from their residence in Myles Standish Hall often deters them from frequent visits to the pizzeria.
“I like to go there to eat. It’s just a nice environment to hang out in,” said CAS sophomore Jesse Sierant.
It’s certainly an inviting place for BU students, as its walls are covered with pictures of hockey players and other athletes that have played on BU’s fields, courts and ice over the past few decades.
“We started feeding the hockey team the first winter we were here, and it just evolved from there,” Rastinelli explained.
Since it is located near BU’s sports complex, T. Anthony’s feeds athletes before and after games, and Rastinelli said his staff has gotten to know many players, coaches and hungry fans over the years.
“After ice hockey games most people head over,” said Sierant, who described T. Anthony’s as “a cool after-event hang out.”
The pizzeria is so connected to BU athletics that in 1982, after former basketball star Arturo Brown collapsed from a heart condition during a preseason practice, the restaurant raised $2,000 dollars in a pickle jar to be given to his mother. She still comes into the pizzeria and her son’s picture hangs next to the menu at the front of the store.
Although T. Anthony’s is a popular gathering place, the restaurant also offers delivery service.
About 20 to 25 percent of the business is from delivery and take out, according to Rastellini.
T. Anthony’s does not offer student discounts or special deals because the focus remains on the ingredients and taste of the food.
“For the good quality products that we use, the prices are reasonable,” Rastellini said.
Rastellini should know about the care put into their dishes, because he and his sister, Carmela, lived in Orsogna, Italy, until they were 11 years old. DiMarco became Rastellini’s partner and he made Carmela his wife. She makes the lasagna, ravioli and spaghetti seven days a week, adding her special touch straight from the family cookbook.
But cheese pizza is still the all-time best seller.
The restaurant is also open for breakfast at 7 a.m. everyday except Sunday, when it opens at 8 a.m. Rastellini’s workday already extends throughout the day, but he said served breakfast in honor of the restaurant’s original owners and their early hours.