The country-cooking hot spot on U.S. 301 has so many customers trying to get food inside the small building during busy times that owner Josephine Finch came up with a solution to lessen the congestion.
"It's a small building, and I really wanted to expand and couldn't expand because of the price, so this was my only option," she said.
Ray's Drive-In had so many people standing up waiting for to-go orders that people coming in the door would think the restaurant was swamped and go somewhere else, she said. Reducing the confusion will allow customers to see there's available tables, she said.
"This was my idea, trying to make the business better and the customers more comfortable," she said.
With the new window, customers can place their order in the back of the building through a new speaker system. Finch estimates eight to 10 vehicles will be able to wrap around the building.
"I've had a lot of feedback from my customers and they seem to really like the idea of us having a drive through so I hope it works for us," she said
Amy Davis, co-manager and Finch's daughter, will run the drive-through, and the business may add another employee, she said.
The restaurant has 12 tables and a counter with seating for seven.
Ray's Drive-In opens at 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday. During the week, the restaurant serves breakfast and lunch and closes at 2 p.m. On Saturdays, it's a breakfast menu only and closes at noon.
Finch has owned the restaurant about four years. She leases the building from Lois Matthews, the widow of the original restaurateur, Ray Matthews. Originally, as the name implies, Ray's Drive-In had curb service.
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