For years, we've seen those amusing commercials for Sonic Drive-In, which unlike other quick-serve chains offers American Graffiti-style car-hop service, a la Weber's in New Jersey.
I found the commercials interesting for another reason. Before last year, a Philadelphian had to drive at least five hours to get to one. A call out to headquarters asking, "Why are you spending money on advertising in TV markets nowhere near your customers?" was met with a chipper answer: "Someday, we'll be there and we want y'all to know about us."
She really did say, "y'all," her being in Oklahoma and all.
To make a short story long, the first Sonic in the Philadelphia SMSA will open Wednesday (6/11) at 37 W. Ridge Pike in Royersford.
The eatery has 25 drive-in stalls, two walk-up ordering stations and a drive-through.
The drive-in opens at 6 a.m. with breakfast, and the full menu is available all day.
More are on the way. I just spoke to Patrick Lim, who with his father, Jaime, owns the franchise for Lower Bucks and Camden County as well as rights for sites in Philadelphia. The Lims, hoping for 10 Sonics, just broke ground on their first store at 1525 Street Rd. in Bensalem (between the Texas Roadhouse and the Golden Corral, speaking of chains); it should be open in mid-August. Their next is up for November in Levittown Shopping Center, joining Home Depot, Walmart and Ross. They're looking for sites in the Far Northeast, plus Audubon, Clementon and Voorhees.
Don Welsh, the franchisee opening in Royersford, has a location planned for December next to the Redner's in Oxford, Chester County, and hopes to open next year in Pottstown, Malvern and Oaks. Welsh also has two in Lancaster and Morgantown.
Some boilerplate from the company:
SONIC, America’s Drive-In (NASDAQ/NM: SONC) started as a hamburger and root beer stand in 1953 in Shawnee, Okla., called Top Hat Drive-In, and then changed its name to SONIC in 1959. The first drive-in to adopt the SONIC name is still serving customers in Stillwater, Okla. As the nation’s largest chain of drive-in restaurants, SONIC has more than 3,400 drive-ins coast to coast. More than a million customers eat at SONIC every day; and with more drink combinations than any other quick-service restaurant – more than 168,000 to be exact – SONIC is Your Ultimate Drink StopSM. For more information about Sonic Corp. and its subsidiaries, visit SONIC at www.sonicdrivein.com.
(Speaking of commercials: Can someone please get the Independence Blue Cross commercials with the song "I Wish I Knew What I Know Now" off the Phillies broadcasts?)
Comments (13)
Sonics have been in southern Delaware and Maryland for a few years... only an hour away.
Posted by Mike | June 10, 2008 7:41 PM
Posted on June 10, 2008 19:41
you have no idea how happy this makes me! Tater tots and cherry limeades...
i grew up with these places in texas as a child...
I for one cannot wait!
Posted by jagee77 | June 11, 2008 10:34 AM
Posted on June 11, 2008 10:34
Oh, great. More fast food crap. That's exactly what this area needs more of.
Posted by Reflib05 | June 11, 2008 10:52 AM
Posted on June 11, 2008 10:52
Sonic saved me from starving to death during my married years after many a night of coming home from 12hours of work and commuting to a cold pot of my ex-wife's horrible cooking. I had to get a divorce just to get a decent meal.
I do not patronize chain restaurants, but Sonic is my one caveat to that rule. Love the foot-long Coneys and shakes with real ice cream!
Posted by Chris | June 11, 2008 11:49 AM
Posted on June 11, 2008 11:49
Great! Now all we need is a Buffalo Wild Wings closer than Bear, DE.
Posted by russ | June 11, 2008 12:13 PM
Posted on June 11, 2008 12:13
Could In & Out burgers be far behind?
Posted by Philly Chit Chat | June 11, 2008 1:00 PM
Posted on June 11, 2008 13:00
Just for clarification, the song during the Independence Blue Cross commercial is "Ooh La La". Otherwise, I wonder how Sonic compares to Stewarts and other drive-in spots.
Posted by Rob | June 11, 2008 2:35 PM
Posted on June 11, 2008 14:35
I would say you drive awfully fast to get to Southern DE in an hour...but then so do I. And mostly for work. But like the fact the the most northern Waffle House is in Smyrna ;). My wife and I both have been baffled by the ads, and now cannot wait to avoid going to the place. Fun maybe, yummy maybe, good for you no ;)
Posted by Amiller | June 12, 2008 11:21 AM
Posted on June 12, 2008 11:21
Just a couple corrections from someone who is a Delawarean AND a Sonic fanatic!
- There are no Sonics in Maryland.
- The closest Delaware Sonic to Philadelphia is in North Dover (Exit 108 off of DE Route 1).
- If you live in Philadelphia and want the fastest Sonic, I'd recommend the one in Morgantown, PA. A half-hour drive west on the Turnpike, get off at the Reading interchange and it's right there.
- There is a Sonic at the Jersey Shore already for anyone going down that way - it's on US 9 in Ware, NJ, between Atlantic City and Toms River, roughly.
- The closest Waffle House to Philadelphia is NOT Smyrna, DE - it's actually just 2 miles over the DE border in Elkton, MD - first exit off of 95 when you enter Maryland from DE. (Exit 109A). A look at their website shows there are two Waffle Houses in the Allentown-Bethlehem area actually, so that's not that far either.
Posted by Roger | June 12, 2008 4:07 PM
Posted on June 12, 2008 16:07
Damn you!!! its hard enough to avoid the Pecan waffles and now you go and give me options! I knew using the internet would be bad for my health.
Posted by Amiller | June 13, 2008 5:38 PM
Posted on June 13, 2008 17:38
There are also a few Waffle House locations in the Harrisburg area. Depending on where you live in the Philly area, these (or the one in Bethlehem) might be closer than the one in Elkton.
Posted by LibraryChick | June 16, 2008 2:31 PM
Posted on June 16, 2008 14:31
The Sonic in Bensalem is due to open next Tuesday, the 26th. Yum.
From Michael Klein: Thanks for the tip.
Posted by HungryInPA | August 21, 2008 11:22 AM
Posted on August 21, 2008 11:22
If anyone knows where a Sonic is in Maryland
please e-mail address. Thanks
Posted by Rodney | August 30, 2008 10:05 AM
Posted on August 30, 2008 10:05