From the Ground Up: Sonic

Owner: Apex Restaurant Group (McKinney, Texas)
General contractor: De Construction LLC (Iola, Kansas)
Architect: Wilkus Architects PA (Hopkins, Minnesota)
Engineers: CEI Engineering Associates Inc. (Little Rock, Arkansas), civil; Eikon Consulting Group LLC (Sanger, Texas), structural and mechanical, electrical and plumbing
Size: 1,227 square feet
Cost: $2.5 million
Lender: Arvest Bank
Estimated completion: Late August
Description: Taking shape about a mile east of the U.S. Highway 65/Missouri Highway J interchange is a second Sonic location for Ozark, this one owned by a newcomer to the city, franchisee Apex Restaurant Group. With a regional office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Apex Restaurant Group operates the Sonic eatery in Rogersville, according to partner John Friend. Don Erbert, owner of De Construction, confirmed that plans outlined by Friend in July 2023 Springfield Business Journal reporting were reflected in the project, featuring a smaller-footprint building with 18 car stalls with a drive-thru and patio ordering, all on roughly 1 acre. In July, Friend noted then that the franchise group wanted to capitalize on development activity on the east side of Ozark. Apex has nearly two dozen Sonic restaurants in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, according to past SBJ reporting.