1. It all started in 1953 in Shawnee, OK.
What started as a humble root beer stand soon grew to a handful of car-to-kitchen restaurants called Top Hat, the New York Times reports. In 1959, after discovering that name was already trademarked, founder Troy Smith changed the company name to Sonic.
2. It's not named after the hedgehog.
Smith couldn't keep the Top Hot name since it was already trademarked, so he went with something inspired by the stand's tagline: "Service with the Speed of Sound." The first drive-in with this name was opened in 1959 in Stillwater, OK.
3. Every year it hosts a carhop competition.
Yeah, they call their rollerskater servers carhops (like a hotel bellhop) and — thanks to a partnership with Dr. Pepper—Sonic hosts a contest among them every year to find the most talented skaters. The winner takes home $1,500 and is sent on an all-expenses-paid trip to the annual Sonic National Convention.
4. Cherry Limeade is the best-selling product of all time.
In just one year, the chain sells enough of these sweet-tart drinks to fill more than 50 Olympic-size swimming pools.
5. There are 688,133 drink combinations.
The brand advertises that there are 168,894 different ways to make flavored drinks at Sonic, but the Wall Street Journal did some digging and discovered that there are even more options for customization—you know, like adding Nerds and Jolly Ranchers to your slushies.
6. Some of the best menu items were created by employees.
Sonic asks employees to concoct crazy drink ideas and names and the most creative ones are often added to the menu, such as Blue Hawaiian (Sprite with blue coconut flavoring and real pineapple) and Strawberry Shortcake (Sprite with vanilla flavoring, sweet cream, and real strawberries). But sadly Sonic doesn't want unsolicited customer suggestions — so save your brilliant burger concept for someone else we guess.
7. There's only one location that serves booze.
Created to "capture the South Florida essence," one location in the Sunshine State is situated on the shore called Sonic Beach. It features a patio area, huge flat-screen TVs, and a sandy beach area. And the best part is that there's alcohol on the menu, including beer, wine (and even fancy stuff like Dom Perignon).
8. But there are a few locations with adult playgrounds.
Sonic apparently wants you to have some fun outside your car, too, so it has added batting cages, volleyball courts, and playgrounds to some of its locations across the country.
9. Only 10 people work in the test kitchen at Sonic HQ.
A select few chefs work to invent new dishes and drinks — and perfect the standbys. And there's a bonus for everyone else who works at headquarters: The test kitchen staff also runs the cafeteria. That means employees get to eat Sonic whenever they want and try new concepts before anyone else.
10. Kevin Durant is obsessed with Sonic.
The NBA star is notorious for sipping candy slushes and treating himself to boneless wings after a big win (or getting distracted by green apple slushes with Jolly Ranchers while on the free-throw line).
11. The two guys in all those commercials are really successful actors.
One of them, T.J. Jagodowksi, was in the Will Ferrell flicks Stranger Than Fiction and Get Hard, while the other, Peter Grosz, has written for Colbert Report and Late Night with Seth Meyers and is a regular cast member on Veep. The two men starred in the ads for Sonic for almost ten years, but stepped away in 2010. They came back with a social media publicity stunt in 2012.
12. They know the power of midnight snack.
Or a 10 p.m. one, at least. The chain recently unveiled Sonic Nights, a promotion (with no end date in sight!) that allows you to get any shake or ice cream slush for half price after 8 p.m. Most locations stay open until 12 a.m., which means you've got four hours every evening to cure that late-night hankering.
[facebook ]https://www.facebook.com/sonicdrivein/photos/rpp.24540959832/10154603753179833/?type=3&theater[/facebook]
13. Sonic is a leader in fast food animal welfare programs.
The chain began phasing in cage-free eggs and pork from gestation crate-free pigs in 2010, earning them praise from The Humane Society of the United States. They've projected that they'll be completely cage and crate-free by 2025 and 2022, respectively.
PIN IT FOR LATER:
Follow Delish on Instagram.
