PLAINFIELD, IL — Big Sammy’s Italian Eatery is leaving downtown Plainfield after selling the space to another restaurant, owners told Patch on Monday.
Johnny Scianna, one of the managers of the location and son of Sam Scianna, who co-owns the restaurant with Mike Majers, said the team was approached with an offer, and at the time, they weren’t looking to be bought, but it benefited them by allowing them to focus on their second location.
“Unfortunately so many businesses in the downtown Plainfield area have closed … [but] there are plenty of businesses with either eating or coffee or just experiences that are so important over there,” he said. “It’s wild this many places at this time went under, but … it’s all coincidence.”
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Sunday, Feb. 25 will be Big Sammy’s last day at 24036 W. Lockport St. The team is inviting the community to visit one last time and “reminisce about the memories we’ve shared over our time together.”
The restaurant opened on Jan. 10, 2022, without any formal announcement or advertisements. At the time, Majers told Patch he was amazed at the amount of business they received in three days — the restaurant averaged about 225 customers a day.
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A little over a year later, in March 2023, the group opened a second location two miles away. The flagship restaurant and bar location isn’t going anywhere, so patrons will still be able to get there Big Sammy’s fix at 14206 Route 30 in Plainfield.
“I don’t look at it as so much of a negative, like we’re leaving and closing up,” Johnny Scianna said. “We can better focus our efforts at our one location. It really allows us to … make that one even bigger [and] better.”
Although he could not give specific details about the new restaurant taking over the location, Scianna said it will be a take-out-style dining experience.
“They have a concept, but actualizing it is a different story,” he said. “We all wish them best of luck. I fully believe they’ll be as engaging as they can be with the downtown Plainfield community.”
In an announcement on Facebook Monday morning, the Big Sammy’s team said it’s sad to close the doors on the downtown Plainfield location but excited for future opportunities.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude to the Plainfield community for welcoming our family-run business with open arms,” the statement reads. “It has been an incredible journey being a part of this vibrant community, and we have cherished every moment of it.”
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