Sonic Drive-In in Loves Park to celebrate grand reopening Thursday
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — Sonic Drive-In on Riverside Boulevard will mark its grand reopening on Thursday following months of remodeling to bring the restaurant back online after more than a year closed.
The drive-in at 1602 E. Riverside Blvd. is reopening under a new franchise owner, Boom Enterprises, which says the upgrades are designed to make service faster and more efficient than before. Boom Enterprises owns nine other Sonic locations throughout the Chicago area and one location in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
“We’re thrilled to reopen the Sonic in Love’s Park and return to serving the local community,” Seth Wolken, president of Boom Enterprises, said in a news release. “As Chicago natives, we’re passionate about bringing a great experience to our guests in northern Illinois, and we’re excited to reintroduce the Sonic brand and our iconic menu back to the local Love’s Park community.”
Sonic will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
It features eight drive-in stalls, a drive-thru lane and outdoor patio seating for warmer weather months.
“The one-of-a-kind dining experience also incorporates eye-catching elements of Sonic’s updated architectural design and visual brand identity for guests to experience the new Sonic look,” the company said in a news release.
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In addition to the drive-thru and drive-in, guests can place orders online or use Sonic’s app, which also includes discounts through the Sonic Rewards program.
The Love’s Park location will employ approximately 30 people. Anyone interested in working there can apply at careers.sonicdrivein.
The Loves Park location opened in November 2010 and operated for 13 years before closing in late 2023. It was the last of three Sonic restaurants in the Rockford area to close at the time.
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The Sonic at 2195 N. State St. in Belvidere closed in 2015, and the building is now the home of Lucky Mustangs Bar & Slots. The Sonic at 2137 S. Perryville Road in Cherry Valley closed in winter 2021. That location is being turned into a future Starbucks.
Sonic is a classic carhop company founded by Troy Smith Sr. in 1953. It now has more than 3,500 locations across the country.
Its staples include the Chili Cheese Coney, which is an all beef hot dog with shredded cheddar cheese and chili, as well as its Sonic cheeseburger combo, limeades, shakes, slushies and Sonic Blasts.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
