Sonic opens 3,000th franchise

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma-based Sonic Corporation has opened its 3,000th franchise in the town where the first of its drive-in restaurants was established -- Shawnee.<br/><br/>Governor Brad Henry,

Tuesday, May 17th 2005, 9:41 am

By: News On 6

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma-based Sonic Corporation has opened its 3,000th franchise in the town where the first of its drive-in restaurants was established -- Shawnee.

Governor Brad Henry, Sonic Chief Executive Cliff Hudson and franchise owner Jim Winterringer attended Monday's opening of the newest drive-in.

Troy Smith senior opened the original Top Hat Drive-in in Shawnee in 1953 and changed the name to Sonic in 1959. The first drive-in to adopt the name Sonic is still open in Stillwater.

Sonic is now based in Oklahoma City.