Manchester Sonic Location Could Open as Early as Next Week

The Sonic Drive-In restaurant at 90 Buckland St. in Manchester, the first location of the popular fast food chain east of the Connecticut River and only the second location throughout the state, could open as early as next Tuesday or Wednesday, according to the owners of the franchise. 

Gina Mesite Mueller, a member of the family that owns the Sonic of Connecticut franchise, told Patch that if the current plan holds, the Manchester location will hold its "experimental friends and family day" on Sunday, and would then open its doors to patrons for a "pre-grand opening" either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. 

Mueller said that Sonic of Connecticut has an agreement in place with the owners of the neighboring vacant gas station at 112 Buckland St. to stack excess cars on the property during the restaurant's "honeymoon period." 

When the first Connecticut Sonic location opened in Wallingford last summer patrons came from throughout the state in the first several weeks and months to sample the cuisine, resulting in long lines and increased traffic in the area. 

Mueller said that Sonic had a "smooth opening" in Wallingford and plan to mirror that tactic in Manchester to avoid traffic issues and congestion in the area, which is near the Shoppes at Buckland Hills mall. 

Sonic's neighbor could soon be a Buffalo Wild Wings sports bar and restaurant, if the town's Planning and Zoning Department approves a pending application for conversion, but Mueller said that she does not expect Sonic to continue at that high level of customer traffic for too long after its initial opening, and that the family has a backup plan for queuing cars should it need to for a longer period of time. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, much of the construction on the property and the building appeared finished, with signs in place and the restaurant's drive-in bays fitted with menus.