Sonic Drive-In Gets OK For Outlet In Manassas

MANASSAS, VA—Of the more than 3,500 Sonic Drive-In restaurants in 44 states, including outlets in the Fredericksburg area, the Richmond area, Hampton Roads and Southwest Virginia, none can be counted in Northern Virginia. That, however, is about to change now that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors has approved a special use permit for a Sonic near the Balls Ford Road-Sudley Road intersection.

The franchise owners, reported Insidenova, will redevelop a closed Burger King at 10850 Promenade Lane near Bob Evans and Arby's, adding it'll be less of a true drive-in Sonic and more of a traditional eat-in restaurant—although there will be traditional bays outside.

Supervisor Pete Candland told What's Up Prince William he frequently hears from students while speaking at area schools, and that they invariably express a wish for a Sonic. "So I was very excited when the applicants reached out and let us know they wanted to open up a Sonic in western Prince William," he said.

It's expected to open sometime this summer.

Click here for the Sonic menu.

Here's how the restaurant chain began, per the restaurant's website:

SONIC’S history can be traced back to 1953 and a small root beer stand called Top Hat in Shawnee, Oklahoma. In 1959, after successfully operating a handful of Top Hat locations, Troy Smith and partner Charles Pappe christened the existing locations SONIC, a good match for their slogan, “Service at the Speed of Sound.”