Handle on Business: Sonic Drive-in opening in Post Falls location

Ah, this is one that readers have been anticipating: When is Sonic Drive-in coming?

Well, watch for a Sonic coming to Post Falls, possibly in May. The 1,750-square-foot building will be across Highway 41 from Del Taco (at the Mullan Road intersection).

Sonic is known for much more than burgers. You don’t eat inside. You drive your car to one of the stalls, talk your order into the speaker, and the carhop (bet you haven’t heard that word in a while) skates out with your grub. Kind of like the old A&Ws, but on skates. I remember being astounded by this in Bend, Ore., about 1968, and she was really cute.

Anyway, the most popular menu items include malts, chocolate-cream-pie shakes, long cheese coneys, drinks made with fresh fruits, popcorn chicken and chicken sandwiches, onion rings, breakfast burritos and, of course, a variety of burgers.

“The most popular items are the drinks, like cherry limeades, and the ice cream products, like banana splits,” said owner Preston Hawkins. “The onion rings are made from onions cut fresh daily, never frozen.”

Hawkins and his partner, stepson Patrick Vollmer, plan to put future Sonic Drive-Ins in Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Sandpoint, Lewiston and Pullman. The Post Falls store will employ 55 to 75 seasonal people and will include a patio up front that will seat 50 customers. Hours will be 7 a.m. to midnight.

Sonic Drive-In originated as a Top Hat in Shawnee, Okla., in 1953. With its headquarters in Oklahoma City, the company has more than 3,000 outlets, with Spokane and Portland extending the farthest into the Northwest.

Columbia Paint expanding in Sandpoint

Columbia Paint and Coatings will double its space when it moves into a new 3,600-square-foot store in the Ponderay Business Plaza, 30736 Highway 200, in April.

With its headquarters in Spokane, Columbia Paint has more than 100 stores selling architectural, industrial and specialty paint and coatings throughout the Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions.

Marty Eden is manager of Sandpoint’s three-employee store, which will be moving from its 17-year location in Pioneer Square at 819 Dover Highway. Phone: 263-8385.

Retail center rises near Auto Zone

A 14,000-square-foot retail center will be built on 1.4 acres just north of Auto Zone on Government Way in Coeur d’Alene.

Owner Janie Coulter of Hailey, Idaho, said about 4,800 square feet are reserved for a home-improvement business and that spaces from 1,500 to 10,000 square feet are available. Construction should start in June and take about six months. Phone Coulter at 309-1560.

This week’s tidbits

“Coeur d’Alene Only $1 store in the Albertsons Mall will close at the end of April – along with 40 other Only $1 stores in five states. The eight local employees will be looking for new jobs. The company headquarters is in Boise.

“Medidi Monkey will move from 845 Fourth St. to the Design Center at Government Way and Orchard Avenue at the end of April. The store offers unique furniture and décor from foreign sources. Phone: 755-5195.

“Yes, Cracker Barrel wants to put a restaurant in North Idaho, but I hear two possible locations – at the Ramsey Road-Interstate 90 intersection and with the planned Cabella’s complex at State Line. First Deep Throat to give a definite location gets the ink.