SONIC WILL EXPAND TO S. ILLINOIS

MARION, Ill. -- A Missouri-based investment group will build eight Sonic drive-ins in Southern Illinois over the next six years, starting with one at Marion this summer.

Construction on the Marion facility, to be at Walton Way near Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Interstate 57, is expected to get under way within six weeks. Completion is targeted for early July.

The restaurant will employ 60 to 75 people, with about one-fourth of them full time.

The Marion Sonic will have 28 drive-in stalls equipped with individual speakers. In keeping with the new trend of the chain, it will also feature a drive-through.

The developer, WKO Investments Inc., operates a dozen Sonic drive-ins in the Kansas City, Mo., area.

A Sonic at Metropolis is the only Sonic in Illinois.

A Sonic is situated in Jackson. The Jackson franchise is through DGW Inc., West Plains, Mo.

Other Sonic operations are being considered for Carbondale, Anna-Jonesboro, Herrin, Benton, Harrisburg, DuQuoin, and Johnston City.

Several Sonics existed in Southern Illinois during the 1970s, said Bill Wrisinger, president of WKO Investments.