News

Sonic continues expansion throughout Upstate New York

December 29, 2014

Sonic has announced a new agreement for franchise development of eight new drive-ins in the Albany, New York, area throughout the next seven years, with the first restaurant opening in Latham in the spring.

The latest agreement was signed with Fast Eats LLC, which plans to open the eight drive-in locations in Albany, Latham, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park, Amsterdam and the surrounding areas.

Sonic has recently opened drive-ins in upstate New York markets including Watertown, Rochester and Middletown, with other units coming soon to Buffalo and Syracuse. With the Albany transaction, the chain has agreements in place in all four major markets in upstate New York for franchisees to develop 27 new drive-ins in the region.

According to a news release, the brand is also still offering franchise development opportunities in Binghamton, Ithaca, Utica, Rockland and Westchester Counties.

"Through a combination of word-of-mouth and increased national advertising, we've cultivated strong demand for the Sonic experience nationwide, and we see tremendous opportunity to expand in the Northeast, in particular," said Bob Franke, SVP of franchise sales and international development, in the release. "Public response to our growth in Upstate New York has been phenomenal, with drive-ins opening in Watertown and Rochester to lines around the block. We look forward to working with the Fast Eats team to continue to drive success in a market that’s been clamoring for Sonic for years."

Sonic has adapted its restaurant format to fit in the colder climates as it grows throughout the Northeast. Like many of the newly planned upstate New York drive-ins, the new Albany drive-ins will feature indoor dining areas designed for year-round use.