Sonic Drive-In on Highway 69, seen here in July, was recently torn down and will be replaced with a new and expanded one set to open in mid-October. (Democrat photo / Ruth Ann Estes)

Builders expect construction on the new Sonic Drive-In restaurant to be completed sometime by mid-October.

Contractors began tearing down the old restaurant last month and the former Woody's Print Shop next door to make way for an updated Sonic that will feature a drive-thru and expanded menu.

"It's going to be a lot different from the old store," said Marguerite Paslay of Elvis Paslay Builders, Inc. "For one thing, it's going to be a bigger store -- I think about 14 to 16 feet longer. It's going to really dress up that corner."

Paslay said the Trumann Sonic is owned by three partners who operate a number of Sonics throughout Arkansas including ones in Searcy, Bald Knob, Batesville and Cabot.

The new structure will look similar to the one on Highway 16 in Cabot, she said. Paslay Builders retrofitted the Sonic restaurants on Stadium Boulevard and Johnson Avenue in Jonesboro.

Paslay said they aren't certain though how the new Sonic will be situated yet on the site.

Sonic has been in negotiations to purchase the adjacent building fronting Highway 463 currently occupied by Victory Insurance and attorney L.D. Gibson.

The owners are under a court order to sell the building but Paslay said she is not certain what the current status is and whether it will be a part of the project.

"They [Sonic owners] are not positive if they are still going to try and get that piece of property next door and add that to it," Paslay said.

If the sales doesn't go through, Paslay said they will just shift the footprint for the new structure over about 30 feet.

City Inspector Gary Anderson said the blueprints for the building should arrive in his office on Thursday.

In the meantime, Paslay said they still have another week to two weeks worth of excavation to do before they will be able to start construction.

"Right now we're removing the soil and putting in a sturdy soil base," Paslay said. "It's old bottom farm land from years ago when we didn't have all these earthquake measures. We have to take out about three feet and put in about three feet of compacted clay."

Paslay said weather permitting, the building should be ready to open in October.