THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: In the center with shovels (L to R) Sonic’s Jake Barnard, Jimmy John’s and Sonic’s Patrick Wampler, Danville’s Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr, Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk. They are surrounded by Danville Aldermen, Vermilion Advantage CEO Mike Marron, and State Rep Brandun Schweizer. This was during Thursday morning’s groundbreaking for the Sonic-Jimmy John’s project on the northwest corner of Vermilion and Fairchild in Danville.
DANVILLE — Danville native Jake Barnard had his grandma, mom, stepmom and sister to cheer him on and for hometown support at the groundbreaking for the new Sonic and Jimmy John’s restaurants on Thursday.
Grandma Margaret Reuther said she’s very proud of her grandson.
Barnard, currently general manager at the Jimmy John’s on Fairchild Street, said he’s excited about the new restaurants coming to the city in spring 2025. He will be part owner of the Sonic restaurant with Patrick Wampler, who operates the Jimmy John’s, and Austin Apgar.
“I’ve loved it. I’ve been there for eight years,” Barnard said about working at Jimmy John’s. He said he’s gotten to meet a lot of people.
He’s also “super excited” about Sonic opening next year.
“I think it’s going to be one of the best things in a long time that’s come to Danville honestly,” Barnard said. “I think that Sonic is perfect for Danville. I love that we’re right here in like the heart of town. That’s another great thing. It’s going to help the high school and help everybody, and it’s just going to make everybody uplift a little more every day.”
“Danville is growing, in my opinion, and we’re proof of that,” Barnard added.
He said he’s not tried many of the drinks and food at Sonic yet. He’s looking forward to trying Sonic’s new Smasher burger.
It’s an estimated $4 million investment for both restaurants. Jimmy John’s will close its Gilbert and Fairchild streets location the day the new Jimmy John’s will open at the northwest corner of Fairchild and Vermilion streets. Sonic will be located north of the new Jimmy John’s.
Wampler, of Champaign who is a franchisee with Jimmy John’s, Subwars LLC, and also an owner with the Sonic, ABW Group, said construction could take around five or six months depending on the weather.
Construction should start in the next week or two, he said.
Wampler said they will bring a lot of the current 20-25 Jimmy John’s employees from the other Danville restaurant to this location, but it will be a “busier, bigger store,” so they will probably add maybe another 10 employees.
Sonic will have closer to 50 employees. They will start hiring about a month before opening.
For employees, the new Jimmy John’s will have newer and additional equipment, more storage space and a layout more designed for today’s Jimmy John’s and “to execute at a higher level,” Wampler said, about serving customers faster. The current Danville restaurant was designed 10 years ago.
The new Jimmy John’s and Sonic will have outdoor patios and drive-thrus.
Sonic will have its traditional vehicle stalls, but is a newer, hipper design, Wampler said.
“It’s their new, what they call prototype, and it’s a very cool-looking, fun building,” Wampler said.
At the busy city intersection, customers will have entrance/exit access to the restaurants off Vermilion and Walnut streets and an exit only off Fairchild Street.
Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. said it’s taken about a year and a half working with the Illinois Department of Transportation on the ingress, egress for the property. Wampler said it’s been four years since they started talking to the city about the development.
Williams said Jimmy John’s will be more centrally located and be able to deliver to a wider area of customers. He’s also excited to have his favorite cherry limeade drink at Sonic.
“The community deserves this,” Wampler added. “You guys are such a wonderful community.”
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