First Sonic 3D in the Nation Open for Business

Sonic is taking a new approach to serving some of the restaurants most popular items. According to the Standard-Examiner, Sonic 3D is a new business model being tested in Layton, Utah that will be offering indoor seating, a drive-thru window and a limited menu.

Sonic franchisee Rick Timmons and his partners are leading the charge for this new Sonic 3D experience. According to Timmons, “We’ve been watching the trends in the market for the last couple of years and had noticed that there’s a need for better access to some of our more popular products — and a way to present them.” Timmons and his partners own 19 Sonic locations in Utah, four in Idaho and are excited the drive-in will focus on specialty drinks, ice cream, hot dogs, and a few select snacks in this new pop-up location.

Sonic 3D centers around 30 “curated drinks”, mixing various fruit purees with soda and supporting the idea of a more snack focused venue. “From an operational perspective, we want to put these (new stores) in very small spaces,” Timmons explained to the Standard-Examiner. Unlike the full-size Sonic Drive-Ins, which often feature a “Happy Hour” discount on drinks, the Sonic 3D will offer a “loyalty-building approach” by utilizing a punch card.

Sonic is one of the nation’s largest drive-in chains, serving made-to-order food for more than 60 years.