Reverse Marketing: Sonic Drive-In

Let me preface this by saying that Sonic was one of my favorite restaurants in Texas. Their slushes and limeaides are legendary. To my knowledge there hasn't been a Sonic in Miami in 10 years.

I went to lunch today with Amy and her mom and brother (John is going to Ukraine with Amy, so the fam is in town to prepare for the trip.) We went to Rodbenders, down Cutler Bay (off Old Cutler Road). I love this place, eat there frequently.

While waiting for the food, out of the corner of my eye I'm keeping tabs on the Marlins game on the TV. There was a close play, so the FSN Network ran a replay, which of course means we get to see the corporate sponsor of video replays for the Marlins games.... Sonic Drive In.

I am stoked. I love Sonic. There used to be two Sonics in Miami (maybe three) when I was in high school, but they closed and moved on. Surely, if the Miami-based Florida Marlins is showing corporate sponsors on their game, those sponsors do business in their city. FSN would not accept corporate sponsors where there is no business within the home viewing market. Sonic has finally returned to Miami! Maybe by dinner I can be eating my food out of a box in my own vehicle, served by girls on roller skates listening to 50's Rock and Roll... WOOHOO! I rush home and check the Sonic Web site.

I am angry. I am furious. There's no Sonic Drive-Ins within 150 miles of my house. There's not even a Sonic Drive in within 150 miles of my C28 location in West Palm Beach. No Sonics in South Florida period. D'OH!

I'm fine with Sonic not coming down into South Florida. In a city where Krispy Kreme is closing, unless your restaurant is accepted by Hispanic Cultures I wouldn't come into this city either... but don't advertise to people teasing them that your services are available (if you're not equipped to meet the demand you create).

It's Reverse Marketing. Instead of liking Sonic and spending money with them, I'm angry with them that they are creating a desire within me, yet they are not giving me an outlet to get those desires fulfilled...

Comments

[RC of strangeculture]

Preach it! I'll take a Sonic in South Florida any day.

This is VERY depressing.

[Jimbo]

I moved out of SoFl about a year ago. A friend told me recently that Sonic is planning to open a drive-in at the corner of Davie Road Extension and Nova Drive, just north of the Ruby Tuesdays near Publix (in Davie). This is actually very close to a previous location where Sonic opened but then closed after only about a year - this was at leas 10 years ago. Unfortuanately, this new spot is not a much better location in my opinion but I hope I'm wrong and it succeeds.