Drive Thru Opens in Nearby Aurora:
1 million customers eat at one of 3,300 SONIC drive-ins nationwide every day.
That number just went up.
A packed SVU of High School seniors parked in one of the drive in slots. The group of Wheaton teens had celebrated their first day back at school with some burgers and shakes.
"We had to wait like an hour, but it was totally worth it," Erik Most said.
Most and his friends chomped down on fries, tator tots, Coney dogs and Toaster sandwiches while they sipped cherry limeades, chocolate shakes, and cola slushies. They sampled and shared with one another and made sure to pass the napkins, too.
"I got a banana shake and a bacon cheeseburger," Most said. "It was delicious."
The Beach Boys blared over the outside speakers of 23 stalls on opening day Tuesday August 19th, as dozens of cars waited for their chance to pull into a stall and order treats from the speaker-equipped menu boards -- ones that revolutionized the ordering process in 1953 by allowing customers to place orders without ever leaving their cars.
7 SONIC locations already exist in the state, but 6 are more than 100 miles away from Aurora: East Peoria, Pekin, Champaign, Silvis, Moline and Savoy.
"I was telling the kids about the history with this. It's a great throw-back and a lot of fun," said Aurora Resident Landa Midgley. "It reminds me of the movie Grease."
As many as 10 cars were lined up before the restaurant's 6 a.m. opening and the weeks leading up to the unveiling were just as filled with anticipation, said Aurora SONIC owner Seth Wolken.
And the cars just kept coming.
"The morning went very well. We're just trying to handle the traffic," Wolken said.
The restaurant's 23 stalls were filled at lunchtime, and families crowded around the two patio menu boards, eyeing Toaster sandwiches and cream pie shakes to ease the summer heat. A trail of cars stretched well into the surrounding parking lots, following the direction of yellow-vest-wearing staffers communicating over walkie-talkies.
At 2:00 p.m., multiple lines had piled up in the parking lots adjacent to the drive through.
"It's all about the experience," Wolken said, eyes on the bustling scene before him. "And we're so pleased to be able to offer this unique experience to the community."
As for Most and his friends, they're in luck--Sonic plans to open another franchise soon in Wheaton.
"We'll be back to this one though, the foods too good to wait for the one in Aurora to open," Most said.
Lindsey Theis Reports.
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Por :
nctv17
Duración:
01:36 Min
Vistos:
219
Publicada:
8/25/2008