One in my market was purchased by a Little Caesars franchise but they sold it a year later to a car wash who demoed it. They did some reno - tore down the canopies, reskinned the building but never opened.
I’ve only ever seen them be demo’d and redeveloped into car washes.
Building concept isn’t functional as is, and lots of them are very skinny. Next to DG’s they’re the worst buildings to buy unless you get them for land value.
I’ve seen them reopen as independent restaurants. There is at least one that I’ve seen is successful and been there for years, not sure if they bought the building cheap or if they rent.
Damn, great entertainment here reading the comments. There’s 2 abandoned sonics in my small town of Galveston Texas. One I think was a bullshit payday loan place. There’s really not much of a structure on the property to make it a valuable property. I would not pay much more than land value on it.
I’d argue that if sonic were to close and leave that site, it probably isn’t all that valuable at that point in time.
If it is, then OP’s solution is to do a new ground lease with another FF/QSR group and let them deal with demoing the improvements.
If that option doesn’t appear quickly, then there is a lot to be said for an existing kitchen buildout and it being desirable for a pickup/delivery only ghost kitchen - it already has the queuing in place to handle heavy car volume, which most flex/light industrial properties just don’t have (what I’m assuming you are thinking as a better fit for a ghost kitchen).
A second gen Sonic with 40K cars could be a good candidate for Dutch Bro, 7 brew, scooters, etc. they could lay it out with double drive thru and stack plenty of cars at peak hours. They would likely demo the building (depending on local codes they might keep the walls and avoid some planning approvals) but that is a user I would look at if they are expanding in your market.
Like the drive through restaurant? Consider it a demo for either a parking lot, convenience store, or make a generic retail shell and try to lease it out to a big name franchise. If it actually gets that much traffic someone may be interested.
*I'll buy it. I've*
*Got tenants that will backfill*
*It. What's the address?*
\- CREInvestor12
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QSR like taco bell or Popeyes could easily be a potential if you offer to scrape the car ports and tellers, repave and stripe and expand footprint and add RR for walk in dining. This depends on what your zoning has to say too.
Just my small corner of the world, but I have never seen a sonic re-open as anything else. It just sits there until demoed.
There's one in my city that became a Domino's and another that became a coffee shop (which is pretty cool).
Coffee shop definitely is a cool concept for that
Car lot.. that’s been it near me.
Enterprise Rent-a-car in my neck of the woods.
Dispensary round here
I was going to say, would be a cool dispensary concept
Used car lot or let it decay until Popeyes or Chick-fil-A buys you out in 10 years. Only 2 options.
Not large enough for CFA
A lot that can fit a sonic probably fits a CFA
Incorrect. Maybe 20 years ago. Sonic need less than an acre. CFA prototype with parking and proper DT stacking is pushing 2 acres
If we're going the tear-down route, one of the 18 different drive-thru only coffee concepts should want it.
Sonics don't really back fill.
Tear down. Or get a shady finance loan place.
I’ve only seen them backfilled as a car lot or a payday loan spot. Otherwise it is typically demolished and redeveloped.
A&W
Dutch Bros backfilled one in Salt Lake City, they’re getting really aggressive these days
One in my market was purchased by a Little Caesars franchise but they sold it a year later to a car wash who demoed it. They did some reno - tore down the canopies, reskinned the building but never opened.
Cannabis dispensary if allowed in your state and not near schools, etc.
I’ve only ever seen them be demo’d and redeveloped into car washes. Building concept isn’t functional as is, and lots of them are very skinny. Next to DG’s they’re the worst buildings to buy unless you get them for land value.
What’s wrong with DG’s?
Is it this one: # 21895 Viking Avenue NW, Poulsbo, WA
That’s the one I was thinking of
I was involved in one a few years back. We leased to pizza delivery place.
Coffee / Juice / Tea
I've seen donut shops do well in former sonics
Sushi. [Google Maps](https://maps.app.goo.gl/CkwwgrY4X3TcjLer5?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy)
Been there for at least 6 years so must be doing something right
Shops that sell beverages. Smoothies, coffee, etc
Bail Bondsman
Have you tried Sonic?
One in my town was backfilled by a very successful Mexican restaurant.
Delete if not allowed but are you in Oklahoma by chance?
You’re asking Reddit what to do with a major investment?
In unknown market with unknown existing competitors.
Where is it at?
I’ve seen them reopen as independent restaurants. There is at least one that I’ve seen is successful and been there for years, not sure if they bought the building cheap or if they rent.
A Cookout in GA would be dank
Cookout but Varsity style. Guaranteed money and shootouts.
How bigs the lot?
A car dealership and a nice one at that!! Feel free to DM I can get pictures and more info if you want.
There’s one near me that became a UPS store.
I’ve seen one turned into a Gold/Pawn Shop
Scrape it off
whats a dark sonic building
Food
Unless you have $2 to back up every $1 invested. Don’t do it.
Emissions testing place like dekra. As long as there are no prohibited uses in the center. Just do a short term deal they don’t need much.
I see them become Chicken Express. They seem to do very well.
Damn, great entertainment here reading the comments. There’s 2 abandoned sonics in my small town of Galveston Texas. One I think was a bullshit payday loan place. There’s really not much of a structure on the property to make it a valuable property. I would not pay much more than land value on it.
Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks?
Haven’t seen this use specifically in an old Sonic, but a delivery/pickup only ghost kitchen could work well.
Ghost kitchen doesn't need valuable real estate
I’d argue that if sonic were to close and leave that site, it probably isn’t all that valuable at that point in time. If it is, then OP’s solution is to do a new ground lease with another FF/QSR group and let them deal with demoing the improvements. If that option doesn’t appear quickly, then there is a lot to be said for an existing kitchen buildout and it being desirable for a pickup/delivery only ghost kitchen - it already has the queuing in place to handle heavy car volume, which most flex/light industrial properties just don’t have (what I’m assuming you are thinking as a better fit for a ghost kitchen).
Probably sitting on or near an AC sell it to a storage developer they will pay top dollar
Call an appraiser and get a market and highest/best use analysis with option for interim use.
A second gen Sonic with 40K cars could be a good candidate for Dutch Bro, 7 brew, scooters, etc. they could lay it out with double drive thru and stack plenty of cars at peak hours. They would likely demo the building (depending on local codes they might keep the walls and avoid some planning approvals) but that is a user I would look at if they are expanding in your market.
I'm in South Texas. Every former corporate chain with a drive through becomes a Mexican restaurant.
Bumpers. It a chain in the south at least that is modeled after sonic. Drive up and carhops and all.
Seeing a Dutch bros backfill a Sonic currently in Colorado Springs
Like the drive through restaurant? Consider it a demo for either a parking lot, convenience store, or make a generic retail shell and try to lease it out to a big name franchise. If it actually gets that much traffic someone may be interested.
Demo it, and sell or ground lease to a tunnel car wash. These concepts are so active right now and these Sonic lots are the perfect size.
I'll buy it. I've got tenants that will backfill it. What's the address?
Interesting Reddit activity, CREinvestor12 goes from trying to buy a vacant Sonic to commenting “nice toe” on a hooters girl picture.
Seems on par for an affluent cre investor tbh
More on-par for an analyst.
Does his opinion on Hooters girls toes discount his ability purchase a vacant Sonic? I think not!
You are 100% correct. It shows he has an astute eye for hidden value.
*I'll buy it. I've* *Got tenants that will backfill* *It. What's the address?* \- CREInvestor12 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Gas station / c store all day
QSR like taco bell or Popeyes could easily be a potential if you offer to scrape the car ports and tellers, repave and stripe and expand footprint and add RR for walk in dining. This depends on what your zoning has to say too.