Sonic set to open this month

By ROGER ADKINS, radkins@newsandsentinel.com


PARKERSBURG — The area’s first Sonic drive-through is set to open later this month.

The restaurant, located near Camden Avenue and Division Street, is nearly completed, said Jim Stricklin, operating partner.

“We’ve got some internal things that need to be done for us. We’re going to open later this month,” he said. “We’re really just waiting on a few inspections at this point.”

The restaurant is owned by Jim Herpy, Tim Kilroy and Denny Hackett, he said.

Stricklin said Sonic is different than other fast-food restaurants. It is akin to drive-throughs of the past, he said.

“It’s different from any other place around. You pull in and drive up to a stall. This is based off the old drive-ins, where you drove up, someone on skates took care of your order and brought your food,” he said.

“Here, you pull up, read the menu and hit a button to signal an order-taker when you’re ready to order. The food is made then and there. Nothing is pre-made. A car-hop brings your food out to you and collects your money. Or, you have the option of paying via credit card, debit card or gift card at the stall.”

The restaurant also will have a standard drive-through. There will be patio seating, but the restaurant won’t have a dining room, he said.

Sonic serves a full menu during business hours. Customers can order anything off the menu at any time, whether they want cheeseburgers in the morning or breakfast at midnight.

If the new Sonic does well, the company may build others in the area, Stricklin said.

“Everything really is based off of this one. We would like to develop the area, but that depends on how everything is received. If it comes on like ‘Gang Busters,’ we’d be foolish not to proceed with opportunity in the area,” Stricklin said.

Stricklin said there are numerous spots in the area where future Sonics can be built.

“When we were looking for a spot for this one, we found locations all over Marietta, Belpre and Parkersburg. The next step is really going to be based on what happens here,” he said.