news | April 13, 2026

When did Sonic Start Drive Thru?

June 18, 1953
Sonic Drive-In

Sonic’s headquarters in Oklahoma City United States.
FoundedJune 18, 1953 (as Top Hat Drive-In) Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S.
FounderTroy Smith
HeadquartersOklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Number of locations3,521 (2021)

Where was the first Sonic Drive-In built?

Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States
Sonic Drive-In/Place founded

When did Sonic 1st open?

1959
The first drive-in officially dubbed Sonic opened in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1959. Upon learning that the Top Hat name was already trademarked, Smith and Pappe changed the name to Sonic in 1959. In 1967, the year Pappe died, the brand had 41 drive-ins.

What was Sonic Drive-In named after?

In 1959, he and first franchise owner Charles Pappe decided to change the name to SONIC Drive-In, stylized with capital letters. The new name fit right in with the existing slogan: “Service at the Speed of Sound.” Both the slogan and the new name were inspired by SONIC’s newfangled intercom ordering system.

Did stars or Sonic come first?

The company was formed in September 1986. The franchise licenses were purchased back from Sonic in July 1987. During the company’s first year of operation, Stars had $11.6 million in revenue and employed 570 people.

Do you get paid more to skate at Sonic?

In a Reddit thread started by a newly minted skating Sonic carhop asking for advice, a person who said they worked as a skating carhop at Sonic wrote, “I worked at sonic when I was 16-18 in High school and wore quad skates as they are way more comfortable over long periods of time.” They also got paid 50 cents extra …

What is the oldest fast food in America?

White Castle
White Castle opened in Wichita, Kan. in 1921. In addition to being credited with the invention of the hamburger bun, it is also officially recognized as the oldest fast-food chain in America. Founders Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson sold their small, square burgers (known as “sliders”) for 5 cents.

Who came first Burger King or Mcdonalds?

McDonald’s will soon celebrate the 60th anniversary of Ray Kroc’s first restaurant, which opened in April 1955, and has been running promotions as ‘A Tribute to where it all began. ‘ Except that the first Burger King opened up in Miami four months earlier.

Does Sonic pay well?

Average Sonic Drive-In Carhop hourly pay in the United States is approximately $10.42, which is 8% above the national average.