A Sonic Drive-In, in Ferndale?
According to this morning’s Bellingham Herald, Washington State may be getting its second Sonic Drive-In, in Ferndale:
Retail proposal in Ferndale may include Sonic
Developers submit drawings to city planners
Jared Paben/The Bellingham Herald
FERNDALE — Washington’s second Sonic Drive-In may be coming to Ferndale as part of a proposed commercial development along Main Street, according to plans submitted to the city.
Architectural drawings show what appears to be a Sonic Drive-In as part of a development that includes five buildings totaling more than 40,000 square feet of space. The development, called Northern Village, is located on about 5½ acres at 1851 Main St., between Haggen and Walgreens…. (read more)
Oh, yeah. Just what this county needs. Another mini-mall.
Otherwise, if the rumor about the impending Sonic is true (and thusfar it appears to be just that, a rumor), I confess to feeling somewhat ambivalent about it. On one hand, fast-food tends to be singularly non-nutritious. On the other hand, there’s a certain nostalgic appeal to a genuine Drive-In, where, according to one article I read on the Web, they even throw in the occasional “courtesy tray” visit, e.g., a carhop stops by your car, checking on you, bearing extra napkins, etc.
Of course, how cheerfully and gracefully the inevitable 16-year-old would execute that mission is open to question. Real, live, acne-afflicted drive-in carhops, ca. 2008 (possibly serving Mopes of Mallgoths), have more the ring of a gimmick than they do of an American Graffiti reincarnation along the main drag into Ferndale.
And I’m pretty sure the pink tutus and roller-skates are right out.
As for the food…well, you may check that out on the Web, for yourself, including the nutritional breakdown, which isn’t terribly encouraging, considering that their Supersonic cheeseburger w/mayo weighs in at a whopping 970 calories/63 grams fat/1420 mg sodium. Wendy’s notorious “Baconator,” in comparison, has 830 calories/51 grams fat/1920mg sodum (yikes on the salt).
On a possible up-note, the author of the article I previously referred to states that “…Every Sonic I’ve been to claims to make anything you can dream up as long as they have the ingredients on hand….” Which is a definite plus, allowing you some control on how much crap you eat. Or a definite minus, allowing you to request god-awful, heart-clogging concoctions.
But it is your ticker, after all.
The drinks are the best part, in my less-than-humble opinion. They have a whole range of slushes, including ones made entirely from juice (apple, cranberry), and others made from real fruit (limes, strawberries, etc.)., and even one made from Mountain Blast Powerade. Not to mention their “regular” slushes.” My guess is that they’ll give 7-11 a run for their money on those blazing hot summer days.
Filed under: This Northwestern Life (variety column) | Tagged: Bellingham, Washington, Ferndale, development, mall, shopping center, mini-mall, Sonic, drive-in, burgers, restaurant, Bellingham Herald
No need for a nouveau-nostalgic drive in at that location. Grant’s “drive-in” has been at that location for decades. Before that it was Jack’s Big Bun, Where my mother worked as a car hop in high school. I wont divulge my mother’s age, but lets just say they did not have any Star Wars kids meals.
I have very fond memories of going to Grant’s as a kid and young adult. The owner Russ, would call all the young guys ‘Tiger’ and tell a couple of jokes or share some old puns. I think he got a real kick the first time he saw me bring in a girl for lunch.
It is a shame that when Russ was ready to retire there was no room in peoples minds for a re-energized Grant’s drive in. I also mourn the passing of a place where young adults and teenagers can feel at home, being replaced by a place where they can toil away grinding out cheap fast food.
Real estate developers and city council members forget that Ferndale exists because people moved away from big cities. I hoped that some day when I retired I could go back to quite little Ferndale. I think I am already to late.