Sonic Drive-in chain plans to set up shop in Bartlett

A quirky national TV ad campaign introduced the Chicago area to the Sonic drive-in eatery chain five years ago - even though there are no locations in this market.

"In the Chicago area, it's created a tremendous demand for the Sonic brand," said Sonic Senior Vice President for Development Drew Ritger.

Now the Oklahoma-based chain plans to build 40 to 50 restaurants in the Chicago area over a six-year period, Ritger said, with Bartlett, Algonquin and Aurora locations among the earliest slated to open.

In Bartlett, a 1,728-square-foot Sonic could open by the end of the year at Sutton and Stearns roads in an outlot of The Home Depot.

Sonics in Aurora at Butterfield and Kirk roads, and in Algonquin at Randall and Ackman roads, could open even sooner, as could locations in south suburban Country Club Hills and Lockport.

Each restaurant will employ about 30 people.

Sonic opened sites in Michigan and Minnesota last month, Ritger said. The closest restaurant to Chicago is in South Bend, Ind., and the chain has five in Illinois so far, including in Champaign and East Peoria.

Ritger said Sonic is looking into the possibility of catering to local consumers by offering Chicago-style hot dogs with the usual ingredients including relish, sport peppers and mustard. Sonic already offers customers a variety of toppings for its grilled sausages, including an Extra-Long Cheese Coney.

"Chicago is a great Coney town," Ritger said.

The Bartlett restaurant's ownership group, Boom Enterprises LLC, needs a series of Bartlett village approvals. The group will appear today at a village zoning board of appeals hearing to seek canopy and parking space variances. Mark Kinnare of Boom also has plans to bring the Del Taco chain to Chicagoland.

Sonics lack interior seating, relying on carhop and drive-through services. With soaring gas prices, the Bartlett ownership group acknowledged it's a risk that fewer cars will be on the road, which could mean fewer customers in Sonic's carhop stalls.

It also remains to be seen how successful the carhop concept will be during Chicago winters.

Ritger said Sonic is unique and will find its own market niche. He noted the chain's large variety of beverages, touted as having 168,000 flavor combinations. Sonic also offers its full menu all day. That means burgers for breakfast or french toast sticks before bed are possibilities.

The chain started in 1953, and there are a now 3,200 Sonics in across 37 states in North America.