Sonic set to bring cherry limeades and tater tots to Palatine this week

Sonic is expanding its suburban footprint into Palatine later this week.

The Oklahoma-based restaurant known for its carhops on roller skates and tart cherry limeade drinks opens at 6 a.m. Thursday, July 15, at 1151 E. Dundee Road.

Seth Wolken of the Chicago area is the franchise owner of the newest location. This is the fifth franchise for the businessman who also owns establishments in Aurora, Bartlett, Franklin Park and Montgomery.

Another franchise owner controls the Algonquin and Lake Zurich locations.

Wolken, who was not available to talk Tuesday, plans to open more Sonics in the area, said Megan Ludeman, marketing coordinator for the local franchiser.

As with previous openings, large crowds are expected at the newest Sonic when it opens in Palatine Thursday. At other suburban locations, hundreds of cars lined up during the opening days to experience the burger eatery with a nostalgic 1950's-style system of ordering.

The parking lot at the newest Sonic opens at 5 a.m., Ludeman said. To help attract even larger crowds, the first 100 people to arrive will receive a T-shirt and the first 1,000 people will be entered in a contest to win a free combo every week for a year. Five winners will be selected.

Moms with kids and teenagers are the target customers for the restaurant, which features a drive-through and patio seating, but no indoor seating.

With more than 3,500 drive-ins in 42 states, the suburban area is a big growth market for Sonic.

The company started as a hamburger and root beer stand in 1953 in Shawnee, Okla. At the time, it was called Top Hat Drive-In. In 1959, the name changed to Sonic.