(By Lauren Halligan, lhalligan@troyrecord.com, @LaurenTheRecord on Twitter POSTED: 03/04/14)
The Capital Region has been seeing and hearing Sonic advertisements for years, creating an intangible desire for the drive-in delicacies. But the wait will soon be over, as SONIC firms up plans to establish locations in the area.

Sonic Drive-In is actively looking for franchise partners throughout the Albany market area. The “drive-in” restaurant is known for their burgers, milkshakes and old fashioned roller skating carhop food delivery system. Currently, the closest SONIC is in Kingston, about 50 miles south of Albany.

Headquartered in Oklahoma, Sonic expects to initially reach agreements for nine to 13 locations throughout the Albany market. The new Sonic’s will come from a combination of new buildings and conversions of existing buildings.

“Our goal is to be no more than a 10 minute drive for our customers,” said Bob Franke, senior vice president of franchise sales and international development for Sonic. “This is likely to include locations in all 12 counties in the market,” he said.

Advertisement
Sonic has a new indoor dining prototype specifically designed for colder climates, giving guests the traditional SONIC patio dining experience while offering a respite from harsh weather. The design is ideally suited for northern markets, and is in the plans for all upstate New York franchises. Sonic is also developing new and innovative products to be revealed in the new locations as they open.

Last week the company hosted information sessions in Albany to meet with potential franchisees. “We’ve seen great interest in the brand here and in neighboring markets, and expect to have more good news to share about SONIC openings in coming months,” Franke said. The company has already met with numerous potential franchisees.

Because Sonic operates 3,500 locations in 44 states the company uses national advertising in turn creating awareness and demand among potential customers and franchisees. “Besides reaching our current customers, this allows us to reach future customers as we bring Sonic to them,” Franke said. New local franchisees are fortunate to open in a market where Sonic already has high brand awareness, he added.

Recent agreements in neighboring markets have spurred demand in the Capital Region and raised awareness of SONIC as a business opportunity, leading to an increase in franchisee interest, Franke said. After the success that came with announcing development agreements in the Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and Watertown markets, the Albany market was the next logical choice, he said. “These announcements were so well received in their respective markets and beyond that we’ve continued to focus on the area,” Franke said.

Anyone interested in franchise opportunities can learn more at franchise.sonicdrivein.com

Lauren Halligan may be reached at 270-1287.

Curry Road between the soon to be built, new Trustco Bank  and Fire Station - or - somewhere in the hamburg Street corridor would great locations for a Sonic in Rotterdam.

Bank, fast food restaurant, drug store.  Money to by the drugs to treat medical problems caused by shitty fast food.  As John Mellencamp would say "Ain't that America"

Quoted from CICERO

Bank, fast food restaurant, drug store.  Money to by the drugs to treat medical problems caused by shitty fast food.  As John Mellencamp would say "Ain't that America"

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quoted from CICERO

Bank, fast food restaurant, drug store.  Money to by the drugs to treat medical problems caused by shitty fast food.  As John Mellencamp would say "Ain't that America"

I suppose you'd prefer to trade in your "little pink house" for a kommunalka and stand on line for 4 hours every morning for a loaf of bread.  Thankfully we live in a great community in a great nation.  God bless the U.S.A.

Where friendlys was on altamont ave is a nice little building.

Quoted from heartburnkid

Where friendlys was on altamont ave is a nice little building.

Bad location for a drive-thru business

A few people (not national chains) have been interested in doing something with the Friendly's restaurant on Altamont Avenue but it never seems to get past trying to put the financing together.

Sonic should also consider anyplace from the I-88 exit along Duanesburg Road or Burdeck Street.  Campbell Road on that vacant pad between OfficeMax and BJs would be a good location, too.

Sonic, if they come to Rotterdam, would likely try to find a location on the crowded Altamont Ave corridor.
They typically want to be within vicinity of other fast foods. Maybe a yet undeveloped pad within the Hannaford plaza

Quoted from joebxr

Sonic, if they come to Rotterdam, would likely try to find a location on the crowded Altamont Ave corridor.
They typically want to be within vicinity of other fast foods. Maybe a yet undeveloped pad within the Hannaford plaza

Agree....except just driving thru that shopping plaza is like taking your life in your hands.
I think the ideal would be near mohawk commons.
it would attract folks from nisky, ROTTENdam, city, colonie .
mohawk commons would bring more 'traffic'...so to say.
altamont ave would only attract 'crane street' and ROTTENdamians.
imho

Quoted from bumblethru

Agree....except just driving thru that shopping plaza is like taking your life in your hands.
I think the ideal would be near mohawk commons.
it would attract folks from nisky, ROTTENdam, city, colonie .
mohawk commons would bring more 'traffic'...so to say.
altamont ave would only attract 'crane street' and ROTTENdamians.
imho

Too far out and no other competitors nearby.
Places like this want to be within close proximity of competitors.
Look at McD, BK and Wendys on Altamont...being close is good for business.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Curry Road between the soon to be built, new Trustco Bank  and Fire Station - or - somewhere in the hamburg Street corridor would great locations for a Sonic in Rotterdam.

For someone who always said to support local business.  Now it's the BIG (a-hem) chains.   Oh, it's food.  Junk food.

Quoted from joebxr

Sonic, if they come to Rotterdam, would likely try to find a location on the crowded Altamont Ave corridor.
They typically want to be within vicinity of other fast foods. Maybe a yet undeveloped pad within the Hannaford plaza

I don't believe that there is an undeveloped, previously approved pad at Hannaford Plaza.  There is an as-yet undeveloped (i believe pre-approved) pad for a restaurant between OfficeMax and BJs on Campbell Road.  That is not to say that the plaza or some site along Altamont Avenue wouldn't be a good site.  I might suggest the 3 properties between McDonald's and Citizen's Bank as a possibility.  Also, there is another site along Altamont Avenue (developed many, many years ago) that is "quietly on the market."

As for the suggestion by another poster (his/her name shall remain unspoken/unprinted) that I am supporting a chain over a local business.  My only response is that is a bunch of bullshit.  I merely posted an article from a regional publication that wrote about the plans for a local franchisee to open 13 SONIC restaurants within the Capital District.   If they are going to invest in the Capital District than Rotterdam is certainly a good place to invest some of those dollars in.  Personally, it would not change my spending habits as my family and I don't really go to fast food places.  We have been to SONIC 3 or 4 times - different locations in different parts of the country.  The food is simply o.k.  Personally, I would prefer that a Dairy Queen or a What-A-Burger open up in Rotterdam.

I hope i can meet the 2 guys in their commercials!!!
FUNNY!

I seldom, almost never eat 'fast food'.  It may be 'fast' but I'm not sure if it's actually 'food'.
One exception... I tried a McDonald's strawberry shake a few weeks back.  Nothing like the
old strawberry shakes.  This one actually tasted good!