Sonic Drive-In Blasts Into South Jersey

Recently, Sonic Drive-In opened a new store right around the corner from my work. I can’t begin to tell you the excitement and buzz it created in my office. For years, we have been inundated with those funny and very clever Sonic commercials with the two guys or two girls ordering food and saying stupidly silly things. The commercials made me want to go to Sonic, sit in one of those “stalls,” and act stupid as I ordered a Sonic Blast and a Chili Fritos Wrap. But until now, none were in my area so my dream went unfulfilled.

That is, until now. As the grand opening day approached, my office was abuzz with Sonic excitement as everyone hit up the Sonic website and ran around drooling as they talked about Super Sonic Cheese Burgers, Tater Tots, and Fruit Slushes. Even I got caught up in the whirlwind of fast food frenzy and made my plans to lunch at Sonic during the Grand Opening. Ah, but the best laid plans of mice and men…

Co-worker, Pete, eyes up the menu at the new Sonic Drive-In. You can almost hear the choir of angels singing in the background.

As I readied myself for my Super Sonic lunch excursion, the word that the Sonic Drive-In was mobbed beyond capacity spread faster than swine flu rumors at a press convention. Panic set in. Would I have to postpone my Sonic experience? Would I have to wait another day to sit at a stall and order fast food from a speaker and pay by credit card in the little speaker credit card thingy and then have some wide toothed teenybopper skate my food over to me so I can eat it in my car? Am I insane?

The glow of the neon lights! The buzz from the speakers! The smell of burgers and fries! All that's missing is the big outdoor movie screen.

As I neared the Sonic Drive-In at 1498 Route 38 East in Hainesport, NJ, next to the Canal’s Liquor Store (it’s a shameless plug but here’s hoping I get some Sonic coupons out of the deal), the line snaked down Rt 38 and through the traffic light. Sonic had commandeered part of Canal’s parking lot and had set up several lanes separated by orange cones with orange safety jacketed Sonic employees directing traffic and barking orders through walkee talkees. One would have thought that President Obama had gotten a craving for a $1 Jr. Deluxe Burger and a Root Beer Float.

Sonic Drive in Grand Opening. It's just the start of the line.

More hungry patrons patiently wait for their Sonic Burgers along Rt 38.

Since I only had 1 hour for lunch, I did not get to eat at the Sonic Drive-In. As I sadly drove by and headed back towards work, I begrudgingly resigned myself to eating my back up lunch, a shrimp with angel hair pasta Lean Cuisine frozen entree that I had stashed in the freezer at work. Needless to say, I was less than excited.

But don’t worry folks, I finally did get to eat at Sonic–several times, in fact. As I drove to work the next day, a much smaller line had formed for breakfast. I swerved in and ordered a Breakfast Toaster with bacon. Surprisingly tasty but more like a roll than toast, I savored my triumphant purchase as I sat at my desk and my coworkers moaned that I had not brought enough to share.

Shortly afterwards, my boss announced that he was going to buy everyone a Sonic breakfast sandwhich/wrap as a treat for the next day. So I got to try the breakfast burrito. I enjoyed it and decided to try my luck at lunch again. This time I got in line with the rest of the hungry hordes of Sonic entranced lunchers. Surprisingly, I waited less than 15 minutes before I finally got to order my Supersonic Burger with mustard and a jr. chili fritos wrap.

There was a small snafu with my order. After 10 minutes of trying to get the frazzled and frustated gal at the window to understand that I did not order a PLAIN Supersonic burger all while she kept insisting that my plain burger would have the lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, and onions on it, she passed me over to a sweetly smiling young girl who promptly acknowledged that the sandwich probably didn’t have veggies on it. She suggested I open it and it only had mustard on it. Within minutes, a fresh burger was made and I was happily on my way to Super Sonic heaven.

I’d like to give a special thanks to my co-worker, Pete, who along with his wife, took the pictures featured in this post.