Big Sammy’s eatery brings old-school feel to downtown Plainfield

When the co-owners of Big Sammy’s Italian Eatery set out to open their new restaurant in downtown Plainfield, they wanted to make customers felt like they were stepping into a deli from a half-century ago.

Mike Magers, 60, and Sam Scianna, 58, had several years of experience either running or working in restaurants before starting their own earlier this year in Plainfield with Magers’ son Joe, 38. They wanted to create something that felt “just like the old neighborhood” as it says on the Big Sammy’s storefront.

It’s a “very old-school deli,” Scianna said. “We want you to feel like you’re walking into a deli like from the 50s or 60s.”

Scianna said the elder Magers came to him with the idea and found the space last year to create the eatery. Magers said it was his dream to have his own Italian deli shop like this and found Plainfield’s downtown an appealing location to recreate something from his childhood.

“The neighborhood I grew up in had nothing but these little sandwich shops,” said Magers, who is from the western suburbs just outside of Chicago. “They were on every other corner.”

Scianna said he was unsure at first, but when he saw the property, he was convinced to join Magers on the project.

Through their years of working in restaurants, Scianna and Magers said they brought along a few highly experienced cooks to join their team at Big Sammy’s.

Their efforts to build and run Big Sammy’s also heavily involve their own families.

“Both of our families work here,” Scianna said, estimating that more than half of the crew is family.

Scianna said his wife was the one largely responsible for decorating the shop. Magers’ son is a carpenter who’s helped any time something breaks or when there’s an issue with furniture.

When asked, Scianna had a difficult time pinpointing what he would consider Big Sammy’s specialties, between the different pasta offerings, hot sandwiches, pizza, salads and even gelato options. He said some favorites include pasta dishes like the gnocchi, lasagna and eggplant parmesan.

The owners said Big Sammy’s already has received warm receptions from customers and they hope to grow in the future. That’s despite the turbulent time many small businesses, especially in the food industry, have faced through a pandemic and economic unease.

But both men said they wanted to open Big Sammy’s because it’s a project and experience they’ve loved.

“We enjoy it,” Scianna said. “It’s such a passion.”

Magers added, “Our food is cooked with our hearts. Everything has a little bit of love in it.”

Big Sammy’s Italian Eatery is located at 24036 Lockport St. in Plainfield.