Somerset Sonic Traffic Backs Up Route 6

Despite the fact that they opened almost a month ago, the popularity of Somerset's new Sonic location is still causing traffic scenes like this one.

It's always nerve racking to open a new business. Few business owners dare to dream that traffic flow into their business would be one of their biggest problems in their first month, but that seems to be the case for Sonic owner Chris Stack.

Chris says he wasn't completely surprised at the volume of traffic that the new Somerset location is experiencing.  He says there is always an initial curiousity whenever a new Sonic comes to town, but that he fully expects it to ease up a bit when they change their hours. ""We haven't extended our hours yet...this week we're trying to try to stay open til Midnight. When we extend our hours I think the lines will ease up a little bit," said Stack.

The amount of traffic has been the talk of the town in Somerset...some saying that the town dropped the ball by allowing only one entrance from Route 6 to get into the popular fast food restaurant. The line for the Sonic drive-thru regularly extends onto the state highway.

To help with the situation, Stack says he has hired a 12 hour police detail for all of the hours Sonic is open (10am-10pm). The cost for those police details are paid for by Sonic's Somerset location.

Stack predicts that the new business will see an increase of about 25-30% growth over the summer. Have the epic lines kept you away from trying Sonic?  Stack suggests visiting during off hours (Sunday mornings, late nights). He says the restaurant will soon be serving breakfast starting at 8am.

Stack says Home Depot has also been extremely cooperative. They haven't made a fuss about Sonic customers parking in their lot and making the trek over to Sonic.

Expect to see similar crazed Sonic fans in some nearby Rhode Island towns. Stack says he is eyeing locations in Warwick and Middletown.