What was Sonic Drive-In originally called when it began in 1953?

Sonic Drive-In was originally called Top Hat Drive-In when it began in 1953.

Troy Smith opened the first location in Shawnee, Oklahoma, after developing a drive-in restaurant concept that used intercoms for ordering. Customers could order from their cars, and carhops delivered food to the parking spaces.

The business adopted the Sonic name in 1959. The change reflected the brand’s service slogan, “Service at the Speed of Sound,” and helped distinguish it from other businesses using the Top Hat name.

Sonic is often mistaken for having started under its current name. Its car-oriented format, including speaker posts and roller-skating carhops at many locations, became central to its identity after the rebranding.