For many Central New Yorkers, the closest we could come to a Sonic Drive-in was watching the quirky commercials on TV. Or by southbound vacation.
Now, it’s a bit easier and closer to get to a real Sonic restaurant: One is now open a mere 60 miles south of Syracuse.
The 3,500-store chain recently opened a restaurant in Chenango, near Binghamton, at 1103 Upper Front St., just off Interstate 81. Sonic is slowly edging into New York state. It has at least one other restaurant here, in Kingston.
From initial reports, Sonic’s a hit in the Southern Tier. Store Front operatives checking in say the wait to get in at peak times is sometimes 45 minutes to an hour.
Franchisee Brian Bayliff, and Sonic, promise other New York state Sonic Drive-ins, and, yes, featuring made-to-order foods and car-hop service — which I’m sure the New York Jets are enjoying at the cool A&W Restaurant in the Cortland market, which always has a steaming chili dog or three waiting for me (plug).