By William M. Dowd
If the group that started a petition drive to bring the Trader Joe’s grocery chain to the Capital Region is looking for something to do now that its efforts seem to have fallen on deaf ears, they may want to try starting a Sonic boom.
The sprawling chain of more than 3,200 drive-in and eat-in restaurants has franchises popping up all over the country — except for the northern states that border Canada. For the geographically impaired, that includes New York.
In the past year it has opened its first restaurants in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, Oregon and Washington state. Approximately 25 units are expected to dot the Columbus, OH, market in the next few years and 30 in the Pittsburgh market. And, the first New Jersey unit is now being built off Exit 69 of the Garden State Parkway. Even in places such as Maryland, which has Sonics, they want more and have a petition drive under way to get the company’s attention.
The list of target states for more growth includes Alaska and Hawaii. But, not New York. Odd, since it’s a known brand with a cult following for its commercials even in markets where there are no restaurants. And, it ranks No. 1 in the annual franchisee satisfaction survey conducted by the industry magazine QSR.
Locally, the closest we can come to Sonic is enjoying the clever TV commercials with which we’ve been inundated lately. You know the ones, with people sitting in their cars, trading wisecracks and bad jokes while enjoying one of Sonic’s imaginative drinks (the chain claims in excess of 13,000 different recipes, but not all available at all times) or meals.
The commercials have made mini-celebrities of some of the actors, especially the “Crantastic” couple doing this radio interview in character.
(Posted 10/20/07)
William M. Dowd is a Capital Region writer and photographer. Besides this blog on current events, he’ll help you keep up with information on food, drink and destinations at Taste for Travel and Dowd On Drinks.