Sonic Drive-In facts for kids
Logo since 2020
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Sonic's headquarters in Oklahoma City, United States.
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| Subsidiary | |
| Genre | Fast food |
| Founded | June 18, 1953, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S. (as Top Hat Drive-In) |
| Founder | Troy Smith |
| Headquarters | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States |
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Number of locations
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3,545 (2025) |
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Area served
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United States |
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Key people
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| Products | |
| Services | Franchising |
| Revenue | US$5.482 billion (2021) US$4.687 billion (2020) |
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Operating income
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 US$127.452 million (2016) |
| US$64.067 million (2016) |
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Number of employees
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5,000 (2021) |
| Parent | Inspire Brands (2018–present) |
Sonic Corporation, also known as Sonic Drive-In or just Sonic, is a popular American fast-food chain. It's famous for its drive-in style, where you order from your car. Sonic is owned by Inspire Brands, which also owns other well-known brands like Arby's and Dunkin' Donuts.
Sonic was started by Troy N. Smith, Sr. in 1953. It began as a small root beer stand called Top Hat Drive-In. Today, Sonic has over 3,500 locations across the United States. A unique thing about Sonic is its carhops, who often deliver food on roller skates! Some of their most popular items include the "Chili Cheese Coney" hot dog, "Sonic Cheeseburger Combo," and "Master Shakes."
Contents
The Story of Sonic Drive-In
After World War II, Troy N. Smith, Sr. returned to his hometown in Oklahoma. He first worked as a milkman, then bought a small diner. Later, he opened a fast-food place called Troy's Pan Full of Chicken.
In 1953, Troy Smith bought a piece of land with a log house and a root beer stand called Top Hat. He noticed the root beer stand was making a lot of money selling root beer, hamburgers, and hot dogs. So, he decided to focus on that business.
At first, customers parked anywhere and walked up to order. But Troy saw a drive-in in Louisiana that used speakers for ordering. He thought this would make his business even better. He set up a system where customers could park in specific spots and order from speakers. Carhops would then bring the food right to their cars. This idea worked great, and sales quickly tripled!
Charles Woodrow Pappe, another businessman, was very impressed. He and Troy agreed to open the first Sonic franchise location in Woodward, Oklahoma, in 1956. By 1958, two more drive-ins were built in Oklahoma.
In 1959, Troy and Charles learned that the name "Top Hat" was already taken. So, they changed the name to Sonic. This new name fit perfectly with their slogan: "Service with the Speed of Sound." The first Sonic sign was put up at the Stillwater Top-Hat Drive-In.
At first, there wasn't a clear plan for how new franchise locations would pay the founders. They came up with a clever idea: their paper company would charge an extra penny for each Sonic-label hamburger bag. This money would then be split between Troy and Charles.
Growing Through the Years: 1960s and 1970s
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In the 1960s, Sonic's founders created Sonic Supply. This division helped provide supplies and distribute items to all the Sonic locations. In 1973, it became Sonic Systems of America, offering equipment and building plans to franchisees.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Sonic grew a lot, mostly in small towns. These towns were in states like Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Missouri. By 1967, there were 41 Sonic drive-ins. This number jumped to 165 by 1972 and reached 1,000 by 1978!
In 1968, Sonic added a unique item to its menu: Pickle-O's, which are fried pickle slices. In 1977, the company started the Sonic School to train its managers. Many store managers even became business partners, which is still common today.
Expanding and Modernizing: 1980s and 1990s
In the 1980s, Sonic started to grow even more. They began to advertise more widely, including commercials with singer Frankie Avalon. This helped Sonic become a nationally recognized name.
In 1991, Sonic became a company whose shares could be bought and sold by the public. This helped them get more money to grow. By 1994, they had updated their agreements with all their franchise owners.
In the mid-1990s, Sonic was opening 100 to 150 new stores every year. Starting in 1998, they began a big project called "Sonic 2000." This project aimed to redesign and update all 1,750 stores with a new, modern look.
New Ideas and Growth: 2000s
In 2002, Sonic launched PartnerNet, an online system that connected all Sonic Drive-In locations. This allowed for things like credit card processing and video training. They also introduced Sonic Live Radio, a unique live radio station for their stores.
Sonic gained more attention in 2003 when it was featured on the reality TV show The Simple Life. Stars Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie worked at a Sonic location in Arkansas, which was a big deal for the show.
To celebrate its 50th birthday in 2003, Sonic added a special Birthday Cake Shake to the menu. The popular Pickle-O's also made a return. Sonic continued to open new stores, reaching its 3,000th location in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and its 3,500th in Illinois.
In 2005, Sonic started installing card readers at its drive-in stalls, making it easier for customers to pay. In 2007, Sonic opened its first stores in the Northeastern United States.
In 2009, Sonic started a program called "Limeades for Learning" with DonorsChoose.org. Through this program, Sonic customers vote on how to give money to public school teachers for supplies. This initiative has helped thousands of students across the country.
Changes and Acquisitions: 2010s
In 2010, Sonic announced plans to use more animal-friendly products, like cage-free eggs. They also improved their soft-serve ice cream to meet official "real ice cream" standards. New hot dog items were also added to the menu.
In 2017, Sonic announced plans to open seven new stores in Hawaii.
A big change happened on September 25, 2018. Inspire Brands, a company that owns Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings, announced it would buy Sonic for $2.3 billion. The deal was completed in December 2018, making Sonic part of a larger family of restaurants.
In 2017, Sonic opened its first location in Alaska, and a year later, a second one.
Modernizing and Adapting: 2020s
In 2020, Sonic introduced a new drive-in design. This design features a wider layout for cars and the drive-thru, plus a more efficient kitchen. It also gave the stores a fresh, new look.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, all Sonic locations temporarily closed their patio dining areas. However, they continued to serve customers through take-away and pickup options.
In 2020, QSR magazine ranked Sonic as the 14th top quick-service and fast-casual food brand in the nation.
About Sonic Corporation
Sonic Corp. was officially formed in 1990. Its main office is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The headquarters building even has a Sonic restaurant next door! Most Sonic restaurants are owned and run by franchisees, who are independent business owners.
Employee Opportunities
Sonic carhops, who deliver food to your car, used to only be able to receive tips in cash. However, in 2020, Sonic added a tipping feature to its online ordering app. In 2021, they also added an option to tip directly at the drive-in stalls, making it easier for customers to show appreciation.
Sonic Beach Locations
In 2011, Sonic tried a new concept called Sonic Beach. The first location opened in Homestead, Florida. A second one in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, didn't have drive-in stalls because it was right by the beach. These locations had outdoor seating and flat-screen TVs.
Sonic Beach offered traditional Sonic items, plus new foods like popcorn shrimp and Philly cheesesteaks. They even served beer and wine. Most Sonic Beach locations have since closed or been changed back to regular Sonic Drive-Ins, but some kept the Sonic Beach logo.
Sonic Advertising and Slogans
Sonic's first TV advertisement aired in 1977. From 1987 to 1993, a memorable ad campaign featured singer and actor Frankie Avalon. Later, in 1999, they introduced a character named Katie the Carhop in their ads.
Sonic also got involved with NASCAR racing. They sponsored Dale Earnhardt, Sr. in 2001, and then Kevin Harvick. Years later, they sponsored Sam Hornish Jr. in 2015.
In 2004, Sonic became more widely known across the country through new TV commercials. These ads often featured two improvisational actors, T. J. Jagodowski and Peter Grosz, who became very popular. Later, other duos and even families were featured in similar commercials.
Sonic has used many catchy slogans over the years, including:
- "Service With the Speed of Sound" (1958)
- "America's Drive-In" (1987)
- "It's Sonic Good" (2003-2011)
- "This is How You Sonic" (2011–2020)
- "Mmm. Sonic." (2022)
Images for kids
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Logo since 2020
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Sonic's headquarters in Oklahoma City, United States.
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Sonic Drive-In neon sign at the Oklahoma History Center
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A Sonic Drive-In stand at the Lamar County Historical Museum
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A rebranded Sonic location in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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Sonic Beach logo
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Roadside sign at Latham, NY location
See also
- List of hamburger restaurants
