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MAITLAND, FL – December 1, 2008 – Sonny’s Franchise Company celebrated the Grand Re-Opening of its Eustis location with several Eustis elected officials including Vice Mayor Scott Ales, Commissioner Karen LeHeup-Smith, and Commissioner Jonnie Hale.
MAITLAND, FL – November 20, 2008, Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q and Hasbro jointly announce a new kid’s holiday program, “Truckin’ to The Toy Store”, where kids can register to win great prizes from Harbro toy company. Prizes include $100 Hasbro gift cards, Mr. Potato Head toys, and other popular Hasbro toys.
ORLANDO, FL – November 17, 2008, This year, Sonny’s is collecting for the Joy of a Toy program to benefit the BETA Center. BETA Center is a local charity, which provides children and parents the knowledge and support needed for healthy families. All Orlando Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-b-q locations will be collecting unwrapped toys, now through December 12th.
October 23rd, Palatka, FL – J-Mill, Inc., a licensed franchisee of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q, is celebrating its 30 year anniversary. The celebration will take place on Thursday, November 6th (4pm – 7pm) and will include kids’ activities, meet and greet with Sonny Tillman, founder of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q, and a chance to win a year of free Sonny’s Bar-B-Q.
Read more: Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q Celebrates 30 Years in Palatka
October 29, 2008, Maitland, FL – In honor of the chain’s 40th anniversary, Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q (Sonny’s) is launching Baby Backs for Babies, an inaugural system-wide cause-related effort to benefit the March of Dimes, From November 3rd thru December 14th, a portion of the proceeds from every baby back plate (in all participating locations across the Southeast) will benefit the March of Dimes and its work to help all babies be born healthy. Sonny’s has committed to raise a minimum of $25,000.
MAITLAND, FL, October 7, 2008 – Sonny’s Bar-B-Q Company has completely overhauled their website – www.SonnysBBQ.com – with a totally new creative design, cutting edge restaurant locater and ordering applications, interactive press room, Blog, online community relations center, and new employment page, in addition to making the site more informative and fun for visitors.
Read more: Sonny’s Bar-B-Q Launches New Web Site with the Bar-B-Q Lover in Mind
ATLANTA, GA – September 25, 2008, Greater Atlanta Bar-B-Q, LLC, a licensed franchisee of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q (Sonny’s), announced the closing of four Sonny’s locations in the greater Atlanta area. Ron Donley, Owner of Greater Atlanta Bar-B-Q explained, “periodically, we must make the very difficult decision to close a store as we strive to renovate and/or relocate older locations in order to expand our presence in each market.” Additionally, he said, “our team members always remain our top priority.”
MAITLAND, FL – October 13, 2008, Wildwood BBQ, LLC, a licensed franchisee of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q (Sonny’s), announces the closing of its Sonny’s location in Wildwood, Florida.
MAITLAND, FL – October 7, 2008, Volusia Bar-B-Q, Inc., Ormond Bar-B-Q, Inc., and Port Orange Bar-B-Q, Inc. licensed franchisees of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q (Sonny’s), announces the closing of three Sonny’s locations in the greater Volusia area. The restaurants in Daytona Beach (1500 International Speedway), Port Orange (1515 Dunlawton Avenue), and Ormond Beach (782 S. Yonge Street) will close by October 15th.
Read more: Sonny’s in Daytona Closes; but Chain is Poised for Growth
Jackleg Enterprises, a licensed franchisee of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q, re-opened the Sonny’s in Starke, FL on Monday, July 21st. The re-opening brings a number of updates and improvements to the restaurant including more space in the dining room and several design changes.
An interview with Barbara Czipo, or Miss Barbara as she is known to the students who ride on her bus, has been driving school buses in Northwest St. Johns County for over 20 years. During that time Czipo has driven students to Julington Creek Elementary, Cunningham Creek Elementary, Switzerland Point Middle School, Bartram Trail High School and Nease High School. She enjoys driving the bus so much she has never once thought of it as a job.
East Lowndes, Inc., a licensed franchisee of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q, re-opened the Sonny’s in Valdosta, GA on Monday, July 21st. The re-opening comes with a number of updates and improvements including a full liquor bar, more space in the dining room and several design changes.
Sonny’s Franchise Company has renovated its Clermont location based on the new prototype model. The restaurant in Clermont boasts a full service liquor bar, more space in the dining room and many design changes.
April 1st thru April 25th, for the third consecutive year, Sonny’s Bar-B-Q restaurants will raise much needed money for the March of Dimes, March for Babies (formerly known as WalkAmerica). Each store will receive a packet of “baby step” cut-outs in their payroll packs on Monday.
Monique Yeager, Director of Corporate Affairs for Sonny’s Franchise Company, has assumed a new role, Director of Corporate Affairs & Marketing. Monique’s new position will include overseeing community relations programs, as well handling public relations, government affairs, and marketing for the company.
In honor of Sonny’s 40th Anniversary, the first promotion of the year is a time-honored tradition of All You Can Eat Bar-B-Q Chicken with the choice of two great sides plus garlic bread or cornbread for $6.99.
This year, Sonny’s is collecting for the Joy of a Toy program to benefit the BETA Center. BETA Center is a local charity, which provides children and parents the knowledge and support needed for healthy families.
During the month of November, Prematurity Awareness Month, Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q will donate a portion of the proceeds from the Signature Baby Back Ribs sales to the March of Dimes, Central Florida Division. WHTQ radio station and Sonny's have partnered to help save babies at all Central Florida Sonny’s locations.
Barbara Latimer has accepted the position of Director of Training and Development at Sonny’s Franchise Company. In her new role, she will oversee the company’s training and development programs for hourly team members, restaurant managers, and the corporate office.
Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q and the University of South Alabama (USA) held its first ever Greek Pig Out on Thursday, September 27, 2007 at the university’s Student Government Association Pavilion. The main event was a two-round rib-eating contest, challenging contestants to eat as much rib meat as possible within three minutes.
Read more: Sonny's and the University of South Alabama Pig Out
“The Big Three Courser” First Course includes choice of soup or salad. Second Course includes choice of catfish, chicken tenders, charbroiled chicken, pulled pork, beef brisket, sliced beef, Bar-B-Q chicken, big salads, and smoked turkey. Final Course includes a dessert choice of homemade fruit cobbler or banana pudding. The offer is available for $9.99.
Read more: Sonny's Announces “The Big Three Courser” Fall Promotion
Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q was voted the #1 Bar-B-Q restaurant in Florida by Florida Monthly Magazine. The September "Best of Florida" issue of the magazine included several other categories such as Best Coffee Shop, Best Local News Station and many more.
McNab & McNab Enterprises, a franchisee of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q, announced today that they will officially open the first Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q in Melbourne, Florida on Monday, August 13th. The Melbourne location is the first new Sonny’s prototype in Brevard County designed with a full service liquor bar, an outside patio, a drive-thru, more space in the dining room and many design changes.
Sonny’s Franchise Company launches a new interactive website with new creative design, new music, focus on food as well as a greater focus on catering services. The new website captures Sonny’s overall growth strategies for 2007 by revealing the new architectural design of the restaurants to include a full liquor bar and outdoor patio.
Read more: Sonny's Franchise Company Designs New Look For Bar-B-Q
Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q, the largest barbecue chain in the country, is temporarily suspending service in its Palm Harbor location on February 19th with plans to resume service Early June –unveiling a whole new look, including a new full-service liquor bar with Flat Screen TV’s as well as a new outdoor patio. A Starbucks Coffee will be built on the same site adjacent to the New Sonny’s Bar-B-Q.
Read more: Sonny’s Bar-B-Q in Palm Harbor to Unveil a Whole New Sonny’s
Sonny’s Franchise Company announces a fundraiser to benefit Winter Park High School. Sonny’s will host Winter ParkHigh School’s Family Night, which will take place on the third Tuesday of every month. The fundraiser is set to begin on February 20th and will end in May.
Read more: Sonny's University Location Raises Money for Winter Park High School
Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q welcomes new owners to Mobile: Bryan K. Smith, Scott Frantz and David Ponti. The three have taken ownership of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q located at 5428 Halls Mill Rd. and 770 Schillinger’s Rd. South.
Read more: New Owners Bring Three Decades & Three Generations
In honor of Prematurity Awareness Month, Sonny’s Franchise Company will donate a portion of the proceeds from Baby Back Rib purchases to the Central Florida Division of the March of Dimes.
Sonny’s Franchise Company announced that they have officially opened their 11th Central Florida Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q location in Oviedo. The Oviedo location is the first in Central Florida with the new Sonny’s “look” including a full service liquor bar, an outside patio, more space in the dining room and several design changes.
Read more: New Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q Location Opens in Oviedo
Sonny's Bar-B-Q, the largest barbecue chain in the U.S., announced its participation in Dine for America Day, a nationwide fundraising event to support the American Red Cross Relief Fund and help those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Read more: America’s Biggest Bar-B-Q Chain Joins Relief Effort to Raise Money for Hurricane Victims