Charleston Sonic now open

CHARLESTON — The newest restaurant in Charleston, Sonic Drive-in, opened its doors to the public on Tuesday, July 23.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony occurred the Monday before the opening, with Charleston Mayor Brandon Combs in attendance. The new restaurant will be operated by Guernsey Holdings, which also operates the recently opened Sonic in Taylorville.

“Our team is thrilled to announce our expansion throughout Illinois and even more excited to serve the student body at Eastern Illinois,” said Guernsey Holdings CEO Mike James. “Whether it’s grabbing a quick bite between classes or hosting families in the area, we look forward to bringing our guests the SONIC menu offerings they know and love.”

The restaurant was announced in late 2023 at 107 W. Lincoln Ave, approximately a quarter-mile away from the university. Before the Sonic opening on the site, an abandoned building had sat there for nearly 30 years, which housed a KFC restaurant and a Cajun-style restaurant. The site has long been a target for city redevelopment.

Sonic is the third new business to open along Lincoln Avenue this year after Jersey Mike’s and Insomnia Cookies. The new restaurant will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week.

The store will have five drive-in ordering stalls in addition to four mobile ordering stalls and patio seating for up to 20 people. Approximately 60 to 80 new jobs will be created, according to a company spokesperson.

Mayor Combs did not return a request for comment regarding the impact of the new restaurant.

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Jacob Hamm

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Jacob Hamm covers a wide variety of topics across Central Illinois, such as protests, artistic and cultural events, local economic development, and the occasional column.

The Decatur, Ill. native is a 2023 graduate of Richland Community College (AA, Journalism) and a 2025 graduate of Eastern Illinois University (BA, Broadcast Journalism). He returned to Eastern Illinois in the fall of 2025 to pursue a Master's degree in Communication and Media Studies.

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