After 29 years in the same location, Lexington fast food joint is moving. Here’s where
For three decades, Midlands residents have picked up burgers, shakes, ice cream and other treats at the Sonic Drive-In at 312 Columbia Ave. in Lexington, not far from downtown.
Now the restaurant is planning to move, though it’s not going very far.
According to Bob Brockwell, the longtime managing partner of the Columbia Avenue Sonic, the restaurant will be moving to 461 Columbia Ave. That’s less than half a mile north of the current location.
The site at 461 Columbia Ave. is the former longtime home of a Bojangles’ restaurant. The Bojangles’ there closed in 2017.
Brockwell said there are advantages to moving to the property at 461 Columbia Ave.
“We feel like it’s a better location, and it’s a bigger building,” Brockwell said. “There’s more room. It seemed like a better business decision to buy and remodel that than building a brand new Sonic unit.”
According to Lexington County property maps, the lot at 461 Columbia Ave. is an acre, whereas the lot where Sonic currently is located is less than three-quarters of an acre.
There is not a firm timetable as to when Sonic will make the move up the street, according to Brockwell. Renovation work is already underway at the site at 461 Columbia. Meanwhile, the restaurant is continuing to operate as normal at 312 Columbia.
Brockwell has been the managing partner of the Sonic near Lexington’s downtown since it opened in August 1993. While he is excited about moving to a new spot, he admits there’s a bittersweet feeling to it.
“Yeah, this has been my home for almost 30 years,” Brockwell said, with a chuckle. “The last day here is going to be a kind of hard one for me, but I am excited about the new adventure.”
The Sonic proprietor noted wistfully that his kids, who are now in their 30s, grew up through the years at the building at 312 Columbia, and that his grandkids now also visit the drive-in.
Brockwell said it has been incredible to see Lexington grow in the three decades since his Sonic first opened. Census figures show Lexington County had a population of 182,000 in 1993, compared to 294,000 as of the 2020 census.
“When I first started, Lexington was a little small town,” Brockwell said. “It was a two-lane road to get to the interstate from here.”
Brockwell recalled a tornado that came through Lexington back in 1994. He was working that day and said he and several Sonic employees took shelter in the restaurant’s walk-in cooler to ride out the storm. The restaurateur also remembered how late former Lexington Mayor Eli Mack used to come by the Sonic and get hot dogs, and how former state Sen. Jake Knotts once worked a shift as a carhop as part of a charity fundraiser.
“It’s been a fun road,” Brockwell said. “A lot of things have changed here in Lexington.”
Employees from the current Sonic on Columbia Avenue will be transferring over to the new location. Brockwell said he will be looking to hire additional people, as well. Those interested can inquire at the restaurant, or text “BOOM” to 242424.
This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 2:16 PM.
