The chain now includes more than 3,500 drive-in restaurants all across the country. Sonic now operates in 42 states, having entered 13 new states in just the last four years. During that short period of time, almost 900 new Sonic drive-ins have opened – many of them in the northeastern United States – expanding the size of the chain by almost one-third,” O’Donnell said. “Greater Hazleton is glad to be a part of the ‘Sonic boom’ that has taken place over the past five years. The chain is relatively new to northeastern Pennsylvania and has been expanding at a rapid pace in recent years. Some of the servers even don roller skates to deliver customers’ orders. Sonic is a drive-in restaurant where patrons can eat in their cars or at tables outside the restaurant. It features a drive-through window at the front of the restaurant and a parking lot in the back for tractor-trailers. The new restaurant is located at the entrance to Humboldt Station. It’s obvious his entrepreneurial talent means customer service and business success.” It’s great to have a restaurant in my hometown,” Welsh said at the restaurant’s grand opening.ĬAN DO Chairman John Spevak said, “I’ve personally visited Gene’s restaurants. “We are happy to be part of this community. The Welshes own 11 other Burger King restaurants throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania and employ more than 450 people in their restaurant operations. Eugene, a native of the area, is a graduate of the former Hazleton High School. The new Burger King is owned by Eugene and Denise Welsh’s company, GDK Development. “Burger King and Sonic will provide new dining options for the 7,000 employees in Humboldt Industrial Park and the thousands of people who travel the busy Interstate 81 corridor each day,” CAN DO President Kevin O’Donnell said. Burger King began serving the public on June 8, and Sonic followed on June 9. June was a busy month for Humboldt Station, as both Burger King and Sonic opened their doors on consecutive days.