Riverhead Sonic restaurant plan up for public hearing next month
A proposal to make Long Island’s second Sonic restaurant location in Riverhead will be discussed at a public hearing Jan. 7 in Town Hall.
The fast food company is proposing to build a 2,590-square-foot restaurant with a drive-though window and just under 20 drive-in parking stalls where customers can order food, according to a plan submitted by Cinos Riverhead LLC of Harrison.
[Related: Sonic looking at Riverhead Town for its latest L.I. location]
In addition, the proposal includes 40 indoor seats and 16 outdoor seats at the nearly 2-acre property, which is owned by Inheritance Development LLC of St. James and currently leased to Apple Honda for car storage.
The application also includes a plan to build a 8,250-square-foot retail building on the eastern portion of the property and proposes to create access points on both Route 58 and Osborn Avenue.
The Riverhead Sonic application may require a state wetlands permit, as there are extensive wetlands to the west of the property.
Sonic, which calls itself “America’s Drive-in” and sells hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and other fast food items, is based in Oklahoma City and reportedly has more than 3,500 restaurants in the United States.
It has only one store on Long Island, on Deer Park Avenue in North Babylon. Another has reportedly been proposed in Nesconset.
The Riverhead Planning Board’s public hearing to discuss the restaurant’s proposal is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Photo: The only Sonic restaurant located on Long Island is in North Babylon. (Credit: Tim Gannon)
