Sonic, America’s Drive-In, started pouring concrete this week on South Hill for its first Puget Sound-region restaurant. Sonic should start pouring cherry lime slushes by mid-April.
When I broke the news in August about Sonic’s selection of Meridian Avenue and 136th Street East for its initial drive-in, J. David Orem, owner of the regional franchise, predicted a Christmastime opening.
The combination of a complex permitting process and inclement construction weather means Sonic will open closer to your second-favorite holiday – income tax day.
“We’re on track, and we’re moving forward,” Orem said. “We’re not letting this economy slow us down. There’s certainly a lot of excitement out there. We hope we can deliver on the brand promise.”
You bet there’s a lot of excitement out there.
Earlier this week, Michelle Lowe e-mailed me asking for a Sonic update.
“I am from Texas, moved here 3 years ago and I am constantly tortured by the (television) commercials,” she wrote. “Just curious if you had any answers.”
You’re not alone, Michelle.
I get more inquiries about the state of Sonic in the South Sound than any other single subject.
“I read in the TNT that the South Hill Sonic was expecting to open early December. I drive by the location weekly and have seen nothing that resembles a Sonic,” wrote Jesse Ryan. “There are several friends of mine who eagerly await any news on the matter, myself included.”
Want some more news?
Orem said negotiations continue on a Bonney Lake parcel he expects to become Sonic No. 2.
Sonic No. 3? Maple Valley.
Expect both of those locations to open late this year, with another 12 drive-in openings over the following four years, said Jake Nelson, operations manager for Northwestern Drive-ins Inc.
Nationally, Sonic prefers suburban locations near high schools along main commuter routes.
You transplants from Sonic territory in the Midwest already understand why. The traditional Sonic Drive-In offers no indoor seating – and neither will the South Hill version.
“This is our first Sonic, so we’re going to build the standard Sonic building,” Orem said. “We’re looking at adding some patio seating with outdoor heaters. … And if we can figure out how to put up (outdoor) curtains to block the wind, we will do that, too.”
But most Sonic customers will order at the drive-through window or pull their car up to an outdoor stall, order via radio and have their order delivered to them by a roller-skating carhop.
“It’s just a different concept than Taco Bell or McDonald’s,” Orem said.
With a different hiring process, too.
“I plan on hiring 120 people to open this drive-in,” Nelson said. “There are three main employee classes that we use in a Sonic. We have carhops on roller skates, who bring the orders out to our guests and collect money. We have front-of-the-house employees who take the orders, work the drive-through and make drinks and ice cream. (We have) back-of-the-house employees, who work the grill side and fry side as well as handle prep throughout the day.”
Nelson also has openings for shift managers, assistant managers and general managers. Four members of the management team already have started their training at the Vancouver, Wash., Sonic.
“With this kind of (five-year) development plan, we will be giving people a great opportunity to grow and advance within our company. It also feels good to have the opportunity to create at least 1,500 new jobs over the next five years in our community,” Nelson said.
Do any of these jobs sound right for you? You can e-mail your résumé to Nelson at chbells@msn.com">chbells@msn.com. He will keep the résumés on file until he starts setting up interviews in mid-March. He also will have an application center on site in March.
And don’t let the roller-skating gig intimidate you – although you’ll have an edge if you can skate already.
Nelson said his team plans to rent out a roller-skating rink for training.
“We will put up obstacles and have them carry trays with items on them around the rink to see how they do,” he said. “We will create some fun skating contests to do with them. After the fun session is over, I think we will have a good feel for who can skate and who can’t.”
Then, at the drive-in, the carhops’ preopening training includes “races around the restaurant carrying drink-laden trays as well as obstacle courses to practice agility on skates,” he said. “Those that can will skate; those that can’t will cook.”
The rest of us? We’ll indulge.
Dan Voelpel: 253-597-8785
dan.voelpel@thenewstribune.com">dan.voelpel@thenewstribune.com
