What do you get when you cross an idea from the 50s with people of the 80s? The answer might not be obvious to many, but to George Salemi the answer is quite clear.

Salemi, who is the owner of Big Ray’s Silverfross Drive-In, 1420 E. Lincoln Hwy., believes the public can use a trip back in time to an era when life was less complicated and rushed.

Salemi bought Big Ray’s Drive-In two years ago from Big Ray, who was the owner for 25 years, and is in the process of restoring it. “We’re trying to get it (the drive-in) to look like it did in the 50s,” Salemi commented, “We’re trying to do things the old fashioned way.”

Big Ray’s is keeping its promise of old-fashioned quality by offering a number of homemade food items. Coleslaw, root beer, hamburgers and Italian beef and sausage top the list of Big Ray’s homemade specialties.

Big Ray’s already had one promotional event dubbed “Fabulous 50s Night” and is planning another one called “Rockin‘ 50s Night” for September 17.

“Rockin’ 50s Night” is designed to bring back the nostalgia of that era. Some features of the evening include reduced prices on food items and specialty fountain drinks.

“The success of ‘Fabulous 50s Night’ was so good that we had to have the police come out and direct traffic,” Salemi said. “We’re expecting a big turnout for ‘Rockin’ 50s Night‘ too.” Other nostalgic touches slated for the promotional night are a 50s car exhibition, 50s music and actual carhops to wait on customers.

In the future, Salemi is hoping more patrons will bring their classic cars for the promotional nights. Although these specialty nights run about four times each year, Salemi said he might, in time, be able to incorporate parking lot dances, possible remote radio broadcasts and hoola hoop contests into the festivities.

Interior decorating is also on Salemi’s agenda. He is trying to recreate a 50s atmosphere by collecting classic drink signs, 50s pictures, old drive-in ads and possibly a jukebox for use in the restaurant.

The food service business is by no means new to Salemi, who started working at his father’s drive-in when he was 16 and later became a food service representative for the Sexton Company.

Salemi’s father, who operated the Oakes Drive-In which was located between Sycamore and DeKalb for about 14 years, has since passed on but Salemi’s mother often gives him pointers on how to run the drive-in.

Another important aspect of Big Ray’s success story is cooperation. The cooperation and support Salemi receives from his wife, children and employees, he said, is invaluable. Salemi’s wife, Mary Ann, and his teenage kids help with the business on weekends and provide encouragement throughout the week.

But the most important part of Big Ray’s is the food, he said. Salemi said he works about 13 hours each day at the drive-in and believes that good food is what determines the success or failure of a restaurant.

“We try to give the customer a good meal and a generous portion at a fair price,” he said. The meals at Big Ray’s range in price from $3.95 for a catfish dinner to $.99 for fountain drinks. Most of the dinners come in a basket and include French fries, Big Ray’s homemade coleslaw and a dinner roll. Big Ray’s feature dinners range from chicken to shrimp to pork tenderloin and the drive-in also boasts 20 sandwiches and 10 fountain items.

Though Salemi said the restaurant business has been diffucult for he and his family at times, often cutting out vacations and shortening holidays, Salemi continues in his dedication to serving people.

For, as Salemi concedes, “(the restaurant business) gets in your blood after a while. I enjoy doing it, and if you enjoy doing something, it’s not work … it’s gratification.”