Sonic Drive-In
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Sonic Drive-In NASDAQ: SONC (official name: Sonic Corporation) is an American fast-food restaurant chain based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that creates a drive-in diner feel of the 1950s, complete with carhops who often wear roller skates. There are 3,130 restaurants in 33 states, plus eight in Mexico, as of May 31, 2006. [1]
Its memorable television ad campaign of the 1990s features 1950s throwback Frankie Avalon. During the early 1980s, Happy Days actor Tom Bosley was featured in their TV ads. The company itself is in its 52nd fiscal year, starting from its opening of (then-named) Top-Hat Drive-In in Shawnee, Oklahoma. They have recently started operating from a new headquarters building in the Bricktown district of Oklahoma City.
Some of the restaurant's fare includes Ched 'R' Peppers (a form of the popper), tater tots and various frozen treats (like the Oreo/M&M/Reese's/Butterfinger Blasts). It is also known for its diverse drinks, such as Ocean Water (Sprite with blue coconut flavor added) or the Limeades (Sprite with limes, and a choice of cherry, strawberry, and recently, cranberry and apple). Until their menu changed in 2005, Sonic had a "Brown Bag Special", consisting of 2 orders of french fries, soft drinks, and two single-patty cheeseburgers in a small brown lunch bag. Also, recently, Sonic started a special called "Five for Five Tuesdays". In this special a person could order five burgers for five dollars (plus tax). Some Sonics still honor the special.
Because it is a drive-in, Sonic's sales tend be more seasonal with the plurality of sales coming during the summer. This also explains why it has not yet moved up to more northern U.S. states; however, in spring of 2006, Sonic opened its first locations in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Oregon, and Washington (Lancaster, Bridgeville, Central Point, and Spokane, respectively). Expanding further north, in the fall of 2006, Sonic opened a location in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Despite its lack of presence in the northeast United States, Sonic advertises nationally.
In 2004, the company became more widely known by advertising in markets hundreds of miles from its nearest franchise. it also uses the slogan "Sonic's got it... others don't," as well as "It's not just good... it's Sonic good," implying a higher standard of quality than normal fast-food fare. While Sonic drive-ins once played general oldies music, as a reference to the niche's popularity in the fifties and sixties, they now play a station called "Sonic Radio" over XFM (similar to "Starbucks Radio") which plays an assortment of oldies and contemporary music, some rock and alternative and even Spanish and dance hits.
Not all of Sonic's restaurants are drive-ins. There are several Sonic restaurants in shopping mall food courts, such as Winston-Salem, North Carolina's Hanes Mall. Several similar Sonic restaurants are incorporated into Wal-Mart Supercenters; there are two of these in Kissimmee, Florida. There are even regular restaurants with indoor sit-down tables, such as one near Norcross Mall in Austin, Texas, which totally lacks drive-in facilities. The University of New Mexico's Student Union Building is the only student union in the country to feature a Sonic Restaurant.
[edit] Trivia
- Although Sonic heavily advertises on Los Angeles County media, There are no Sonic restaurants within 50 miles of Los Angeles County.
- There is a Sonic in Anaheim, CA, which is 26 miles from Los Angeles proper.
- Lyson Video Inc., the same company that has filmed various Wendy's advertisements, shot three commercials for Sonic Drive-In in 2005.
- Sonic Drive In's original name was the Top Hat Drive In
[edit] See also
- Superdawg, an original drive-in hotdog stand featuring carhop service located in Chicago, Illinois.
- Dog n Suds, a traditional drive-in chain in the Midwestern United States which offers a similar menu.
- A&W Restaurants, a drive-in/drive-through chain primarily in Canada and the Pacific Northwestern United States
