New Clinton Sonic is opening in February and hiring now
Workers were out in the cold weather Monday morning finishing up exterior work on the new Clinton Sonic Drive-In restaurant, which is expected to open in February. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
“We’re excited to bring the one-of-a-kind Sonic Drive-In dining experience and all the craveable flavors our menu offers to guests in Clinton with the opening of our new drive-in at 2210 North Charles G. Seivers Blvd.,” said Sonic corporate spokesman Brent Reams from the company’s headquarters in Oklahoma City.
“While we don’t have specific timing and details to share just yet, we expect to open in February.”
The Clinton Sonic also plans to hire about 50 people, and a sign on the property says applications are being accepted there, with on-the-spot interviews available.
Rocky Top has the nearest Sonic to Clinton now.
Founded as Sonic Drive-In in 1959, the chain got its start as a Top Hat root beer stand in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in 1953.
In December 2018, Sonic was purchased by Inspire Brands, based in Sandy Spring, Georgia. Inspire Brands operates 32,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, Rusty Taco, and Sonic Drive-In restaurants worldwide.
As of this month, Sonic operates 3,552 restaurants in 46 U.S. states.
In September, the Sonic developers began site preparation for the new restaurant, including grading and foundation work, after receiving a building permit from the city of Clinton on Sept. 14 for that work.
Rafferty Construction, Inc., of Franklin, Indiana, got the building permit for a new $1.2 million structure on Oct. 14. The 1,287-square-foot building and outlying structures are just east of the new Buddy’s bar-b-q restaurant in the Sinking Springs II development near Interstate 75, Exit 122.
Sonic will include a drive-through window as well as Sonic’s signature carhop curb service under separate awnings.
The Buddy’s building went up first, and Buddy’s opened last December. Since then, Tennova has opened a primary-care medical clinic in the same building, and there is also a new Farm Bureau Insurance office there, which opened Sept. 1.
To the west of the Buddy’s building, a new structure is going up to house a Starbucks coffee shop and SP’s Wine & Liquor, which will be the first package store to open in Clinton. City voters approved package stores in a referendum in November 2020.
Neither of those businesses has opened yet.
Sinking Springs development principal Andy Hillmer with Southern Commercial real estate in Knoxville said last February that he had signed a lease with the Sonic operator, and that he expected construction to begin in April or May. No reason has been given for the delay.
As for jobs at the new Sonic, those interested in applying can visit careers.sonicdrivein.com/us/en/job/JR16745/Crew-Member-New-Restaurant-Opening.