STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The future Sonic at 1630 Forest Ave. represents more than a new fast-food tenant. The former Santander Bank property remained vacant after plans for a Chipotle restaurant stalled roughly a year ago, two years after the project was first announced.
For Benjamin Bifalco, the project represents an opportunity to bring a nationally recognized brand to a highly visible site while repurposing one of the borough’s increasingly rare drive-thru properties.
The principal of Staten Island-based Unforgettable Construction & Consulting Inc., who is overseeing the build-out, said the project has given him a firsthand look at the planning and precision behind the Sonic brand and its parent company, Inspire Brands.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Inspire Brands,” Bifalco said. “Their attention to detail is incredible.”…