The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: PegLeg45 on December 02, 2009, 10:44:49 AM
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We see and hear about corporate policies in the news, and on here sometimes, and never really think about it affecting us "at home" in our own back yards. Well, this week it did. Depending on where you live many of you may have heard of and/or eaten at the chain BBQ restaurant called Sonny's. Well, below is a story from our local newspaper from my town outlining what happened concerning policy and our local Sonny's franchise restaurant.
Tifton restaurant owner loses Sonny’s franchise
By Angie Thompson, Senior Reporter
TIFTON — Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q on U.S. Highway 82 West is now The Smokehouse Restaurant because local franchise owner Bill Davis refused to sell beer, wine or liquor in the “family restaurant.” Also, the Sonny’s corporation didn’t believe it was appropriate for employees there to wear “I Pledge...I Pray” T-shirts at work.
Rather than change his operation, Davis said Tuesday he decided to “stand up for God.” He said he has nothing against the Sonny’s organization and can’t understand why his decision has brought him so much attention.
“All I did was say I was standing up for God,” Davis said. “This should be a normal everyday thing. This should not be the event it has become.”
Davis said the company has been “super nice” over the 22 years he’s owned the Sonny’s Restaurant franchise in Tifton.
“They are very professional people and they have been very helpful, and they did a world of good for us and helped us build what we have today,” Davis said.
Davis said his 20-year license for his Sonny’s franchise expired two years ago. He drove to Orlando to the Sonny’s headquarters in February 2008 to meet with officials there; he said the company offered a new agreement with the stipulation that he sell beer, wine and liquor drinks in the restaurant.
“I just told them we didn’t want to,” Davis said. “They didn’t understand because they acted like that was the future of restaurants.”
The Sonny’s president, according to Davis, backed off the mandate that the Tifton restaurant sell liquor and offered Davis a two-year contract extension to decide if he would sell wine and beer. The president also told Davis that he might want to consider selling the restaurant, closing it or turning it into another business.
Then Davis received a letter dated Oct. 20, 2009, stating that his franchise agreement with Sonny’s would end Dec. 31. There were specifically two issues in the letter, Davis said, that he couldn’t agree with.
In the “Notice of Default and Notice of Termination” letter, the company stated that it had sent Davis a letter in April giving him time to sell the franchise and that “All system standards,” including beer and wine sales, would continue through the end of the year.
Davis also takes issue with Sonny’s disapproval of employees wearing clothing with American flags and Christian logos on them and with such items in the restaurant.
One paragraph in the letter reads, “Team members at the Tifton Sonny’s Store #92 were wearing white T-shirts with an American flag that stated on the front, ‘I Pledge...I Pray.’ There was also a ‘Jesus’ memento/trinket on the shelf at the cash register. The T-shirts are not an approved uniform along and the ‘Jesus’ memento/trinket are not within Sonny’s System Standards, which states as follows: Politics and Religion: Where we realize you are individual business owners with your own view on politics and religion, the Sonny’s brand must remain non-partisan. No political or religious signage is allowed on the property where a Sonny’s is located. This includes non-partisan races such as city and county government as well as holding religious services inside the restaurant. Any cash and food donations are at your discretion.”
“That’s where being politically correct came in and I really don’t care a rat’s a-- about being politically correct,” Davis said. “I’d much rather have God than any politician I know.”
Bold emphasis is mine.
http://www.tiftongazette.com/local/local_story_335220203.html
I personally find it appalling that a 22 year business has to end this way because his principles don't go along with the home office. What is odd, is that Sonny's Corporate has always been community oriented and charitable so this was even more of a shock. Heck, they have already taken his location off the map at the corporate web site.
I think he made the right choice and actually feel he will do even more business than he was already doing and now he doesn't have to deal with corporate red tape.
I say good on Bill Davis.......and I for one will never spend another cent in a Sonny's restaurant because I wouldn't want the "In God We Trust" or any symbol of the USA to offend their corporate sensibilities.
Sonny's = BASTARDS. >:(
Thanks for letting me rant,
Peg
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Good on him.
Franchises/franchiseees are becoming a mirror of the US revolution. Sending more and more money away with less and less freedom to show for it.
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Isn't is scary what is happening all over and under our noses.. So ... now we know how many other people with Sonny's restaurant buckled and is giving up wearing shirts symbolizing God or America... and selling alcohol whether they wanted to or not..
Slowly like rotting flesh.. we are being taken over.................
It takes a real person with strong values to do what he is doing..
and you are right.. the people that are behind these corporate powers are bastards..
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They didn't have a problem taking in the money that states "IN GOD WE TRUST"on every bill.. Well it does for now? ???
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What's wrong with having a drink with your meal? It's not a sin.
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What's wrong with having a drink with your meal? It's not a sin.
Davis may be Southern Baptist, they do seem to have some serious reservations where booze is concerned. It's not Biblical, but it is Southern Baptist. I know, I used to be one.
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What's wrong with having a drink with your meal? It's not a sin.
That isn't really the point. The point is that for whatever reason, maybe the Owner just didn't want to attract drunks to a restaurant that was already doing well with out the hassle, He chose NOT to be dictated to by some corporate bean counter.
GOOD FOR HIM !
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Sounds like he could open another restaurant in town, run it his way, and take business away from the corporate HQ in Orlando.
Which would be fine with me and all the folks that went there for a decent meal.
We had fish camps in NC, only open a couple days a week. Great food, no alcohol. Packed on Fri & Sat night.
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Call the CEO of Sonny's and have them look at the back of every U.S. form of currency, he'll find ..."IN GOD WE TRUST" in nice big letters.
Hypocrites.....
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Call the CEO of Sonny's and have them look at the back of every U.S. form of currency, he'll find ..."IN GOD WE TRUST" in nice big letters.
Hypocrites.....
They don't call it "The Almighty" Dollar for nothing....
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After 22 yrs, I hope he owns the building and equipment and just needs to change names.
I like " The restaurant formerly known as Sonny's " same great people and menu.
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This STINKS! We loved Sonny's. Great fried Ochre, pulled pork, beef briquet. Mmmmmm. Probably won't be eating there anymore knowing this. :(
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I tried to look at this from both sides but I keep coming back to one thought. If you want to own a franchise you have to go by the rules. That goes for all franchises. Most others have uniforms too. If you don't like the rules feel free to give it up like he did.
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I tried to look at this from both sides but I keep coming back to one thought. If you want to own a franchise you have to go by the rules. That goes for all franchises. Most others have uniforms too. If you don't like the rules feel free to give it up like he did.
On its face, this is absolutely true.
But in this case, as in so many, what we are witnessing is a dramatic change in a very key concept. That concept is "the rule of law". This is where we all agree to a common set of laws to help structure society and control the baser instincts of some or the populace.
What is happening across the country - from the kongress kommies on down - is that this concept is being changed to "the rule by law". In this scenario, our "betters" force change on us by passing laws or rules that subvert classic American values (Constitutional law), demonize or diminish historically significant cultural artifacts (patriotism, belief in Country, Duty, Honor), and make exercising your rights at the least "improper" and at worst illegal (Christmas displays on public grounds).
Violate these new "laws" and rules and you will get sued. Partly a problem with activist judges who are willing to make laws from the bench, combined with the trial lawyers, and in uber-lib organizations with agendas, and mix with apathy on the part of the American people.
There have been studies about the law-abiding nature of the American people, and our enemies are using it against us. Is Sonny's part of this? Probably not, just mindless do-gooders going along with the flow and making rules to avoid getting sued.
I still won't eat there, and we don't even have one up here.
BTW, Sonny's changed the rules mid-stream, especially with the alcohol part.
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BM, Great fried Ochre
Did you mean Okra???? If Sonny's has some exotic fare I'm sorry.... ;)
They used to have a Po' Folks franchise, kinda like country family style, no alcohol, but it seems profit from a stocked bar outweighs a "family" dining establishment.
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humble local business man named S. Truett Cathy owns a chain of fast food chicken places that are very profitable. Not only don't they sell alcohol, but they aren't open on Sundays! So neither are prerequisites to profitability. Both are just his choice in how he wants to run his business.
It would seem that a national chain would understand that what flies in Buena Vista doesn't necessarily play in Peoria, or Tifton. They would allow for some minor differences based on regional preferences. As long as the franchise was profitable and wasn't creating a bad image for the brand......
So I think parting ways is the best thing here. The Tifton manager has gotten years of experience as a franchisee and can probably swing it as an independent now.
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Think you need to sell booze to make a profit ? Dave Thomas and Ray Kroc say you just suck at running a business..
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I think this fella did the right thing, no amount of money or 'social capital' is worth you integrity. The man don't want to serve the booze, then he won't compromise his soul for a sign on a building. Personally I don't care one way or the other on the matter, but I know I probably won't be visiting a Sonny's in the future.
One thing I do know, in the Austin area, quite a few 'chain' joints are tearing down trite franchise images, and remake there business in their, and the communities, image. I know I don't go to a business because of its 'social capital' but because of the folks that run, and work, in it. This gentleman probably just bought a ton of points with his customer base.
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BM, Great fried Ochre
Did you mean Okra???? If Sonny's has some exotic fare I'm sorry.... ;)
They used to have a Po' Folks franchise, kinda like country family style, no alcohol, but it seems profit from a stocked bar outweighs a "family" dining establishment.
That's the stuff! ;) Glad they don't make me spell it ta eat it. ;)
I'm a teeny bit glad they'll be serving beer for the fact that I like it. Especially with good BBQ! But disapointed they're forcing this down owners throats! Also diasapointed because up until now most of their staff in all the different locations I've visited were teenagers that actually had the maturity and responsibility to go out and get a good job. They'll all have to be let go now. >:(
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I tried to look at this from both sides but I keep coming back to one thought. If you want to own a franchise you have to go by the rules. That goes for all franchises. Most others have uniforms too. If you don't like the rules feel free to give it up like he did.
I agree completely. If I wanted to run a kosher deli, I wouldn't buy a McDonald's franchise. If you wanted to sell Jeeps, you wouldn't buy a Ford dealership.
Chain restaurants have an interest in maintaining a uniform appearance, ambiance, and menu in their restaurants. That's how customers can walk into a Wendy's in any city in the country and know what they'll get.
Personally, I'd rather patronize a local restaurant than a chain, and I certainly support anyone who opts to run his own business as he sees fit. But I also recognize that the thing that makes a franchise worthwhile is the fact that every restaurant in a chain has the same characteristics.
Consider - what would your reaction be in you walked into a Bass Pro Shop or Gander Mountain and discovered that since the franchisee was a vegetarian, he'd eliminated hunting and fishing gear from the store's inventory?
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Another side of the franchise agreement, Jumbo, is that he has had the franchise for over 20 years. Things have changed, and Things change in that period. We are all guilty of renewing without realizing by our own lack of research what the new standards are. Sometimes we even agree to things based on hoping they will let it slide or based on the handshake of an area rep. that this is corporate policy, but it won't be enforced on someone like you. The story doesn't say if this is the case, but it is just a possible as the assumption that he signed on for this 20+ years ago.
This view comes from someone that changed jobs just over 10 years ago, because what I was being told and expected to do had changed from what I signed on for five years previous. Corporate America does not discuss with individuals - they rewrite the rules and send you a new book. The closest to this is the little envelope you get from your credit card company, bank or insurance company every year with the new rules of dealing with them.
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Hello to all;
one way to accomidate both sides is to do what other "chain" companies post and advertise within their corporate advertisements - "at pertisipating stores" only. That would solve the beer/wine - booze problem. A predominate sign displayed within the sight of all entering the building could state - "we the employees and management proudly believe in God and Country". This would give any customers the opportunity to decide if they wish to continue to patronize the business.
We need spell check here " pertisipating" ? I do not have a dictionary handy (lol).
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Participating..... ;)
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Sonny's food sucks anyway. Slow cooked meat that they toss COLD bbq sauce on AFTER it's cooked. Never understood calling that bbq. I guess it's a Southern thing.
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Hello to all;
one way to accomidate both sides is to do what other "chain" companies post and advertise within their corporate advertisements - "at pertisipating stores" only. That would solve the beer/wine - booze problem. A predominate sign displayed within the sight of all entering the building could state - "we the employees and management proudly believe in God and Country". This would give any customers the opportunity to decide if they wish to continue to patronize the business.
We need spell check here " pertisipating" ? I do not have a dictionary handy (lol).
Check out ie spell http://www.iespell.com/ free and it works.
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Sonny's food sucks anyway. Slow cooked meat that they toss COLD bbq sauce on AFTER it's cooked. Never understood calling that bbq. I guess it's a Southern thing.
IT IS AND WE LIKE IT!! We bbq different ways but that's only one of them. We also like iced tea and we put beans in our chilli ! ;D
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IT IS AND WE LIKE IT!! We bbq different ways but that's only one of them. We also like iced tea and beans in our chilli ! ;D
Don't you mean 'Sweettea'? ;D
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Chili without beans is just "food". Add beans for hours of fun, and a meal LONG remembered ;D
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That isn't really the point. The point is that for whatever reason, maybe the Owner just didn't want to attract drunks to a restaurant that was already doing well with out the hassle, He chose NOT to be dictated to by some corporate bean counter.
GOOD FOR HIM !
From what I understand, that is pretty much it in a nutshell. Corporate is changing (i.e. the alcohol) and the t-shirt thing was just the proverbial 'straw'. Bill says that he has no animosity or hard feeling towards Sonny's in general and that the last 22 years were great. He just doesn't hold with their corporate viewpoint. Sonny's 'changed horses in the middle of the stream' in order to progress with the 'current trends'. He chose to make a stand rather than a compromise his principles.
My overall opinion of Sonny's and the personal decision not to patronize their facilities in the future wasn't as much based on Bill's situation as much as it was on finding out their corporate position on the patriotic shirts and the PC standpoint on religion brought up in their letter to him.
He does own the building and property and is in the process of re-opening under the name of "The Smokehouse". I believe he will do well because he can custom tailor his menu the way he wants to.
I agree completely. If I wanted to run a kosher deli, I wouldn't buy a McDonald's franchise. If you wanted to sell Jeeps, you wouldn't buy a Ford dealership.
Chain restaurants have an interest in maintaining a uniform appearance, ambiance, and menu in their restaurants. That's how customers can walk into a Wendy's in any city in the country and know what they'll get.
Personally, I'd rather patronize a local restaurant than a chain, and I certainly support anyone who opts to run his own business as he sees fit. But I also recognize that the thing that makes a franchise worthwhile is the fact that every restaurant in a chain has the same characteristics.
Consider - what would your reaction be in you walked into a Bass Pro Shop or Gander Mountain and discovered that since the franchisee was a vegetarian, he'd eliminated hunting and fishing gear from the store's inventory?
Very valid point, bbb, and to a great extent I agree.
This situation here was a little different in that it was an established business that didn't sell alcohol originally and then up and changed after 22 years and the owner simply differed in opinion with the change...... because it was, to him, drastically opposite of what his idea of a 'family style' restaurant was.
To use your McDonalds theme, it would be like opening a new McD's franchise and then 5 years later they tell you that you had to start selling booze, porn, and putting condoms in Happy Meals....or anything else that was drastically different, ideally, from what you believed in and had been doing since day one. Then you have to make a choice.
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That isn't really the point. The point is that for whatever reason, maybe the Owner just didn't want to attract drunks to a restaurant that was already doing well with out the hassle, He chose NOT to be dictated to by some corporate bean counter.
GOOD FOR HIM !
From what I understand, that is pretty much it in a nutshell. Corporate is changing (i.e. the alcohol) and the t-shirt thing was just the proverbial 'straw'. Bill says that he has no animosity or hard feeling towards Sonny's in general and that the last 22 years were great. He just doesn't hold with their corporate viewpoint. Sonny's 'changed horses in the middle of the stream' in order to progress with the 'current trends'. He chose to make a stand rather than a compromise his principles.
My overall opinion of Sonny's and the personal decision not to patronize their facilities in the future wasn't as much based on Bill's situation as much as it was on finding out their corporate position on the patriotic shirts and the PC standpoint on religion brought up in their letter to him.
He does own the building and property and is in the process of re-opening under the name of "The Smokehouse". I believe he will do well because he can custom tailor his menu the way he wants to.
I agree completely. If I wanted to run a kosher deli, I wouldn't buy a McDonald's franchise. If you wanted to sell Jeeps, you wouldn't buy a Ford dealership.
Chain restaurants have an interest in maintaining a uniform appearance, ambiance, and menu in their restaurants. That's how customers can walk into a Wendy's in any city in the country and know what they'll get.
Personally, I'd rather patronize a local restaurant than a chain, and I certainly support anyone who opts to run his own business as he sees fit. But I also recognize that the thing that makes a franchise worthwhile is the fact that every restaurant in a chain has the same characteristics.
Consider - what would your reaction be in you walked into a Bass Pro Shop or Gander Mountain and discovered that since the franchisee was a vegetarian, he'd eliminated hunting and fishing gear from the store's inventory?
Very valid point, bbb, and to a great extent I agree.
This situation here was a little different in that it was an established business that didn't sell alcohol originally and then up and changed after 22 years and the owner simply differed in opinion with the change...... because it was, to him, drastically opposite of what his idea of a 'family style' restaurant was.
To use your McDonalds theme, it would be like opening a new McD's franchise and then 5 years later they tell you that you had to start selling booze, porn, and putting condoms in Happy Meals....or anything else that was drastically different, ideally, from what you believed in and had been doing since day one. Then you have to make a choice.
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Sonny's food sucks anyway. Slow cooked meat that they toss COLD bbq sauce on AFTER it's cooked. Never understood calling that bbq. I guess it's a Southern thing.
All depends on what part of the South you are in.
I like it done both ways, but prefer the BBQ sauce cooked into the meat. If it's seasoned and cooked right on the right type of wood, it don't need the sauce (but I still prefer the sauce....cooked on the meat).
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I like mine cooked with the sauce or just a damn good dry rub. To me Sonny's meat didn't have any taste and the cold sauce was a turn off. YMMV
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I like mine cooked with the sauce or just a damn good dry rub. To me Sonny's meat didn't have any taste and the cold sauce was a turn off. YMMV
I liked their smoked chicken and the sliced beef was 'OK'.......didn't care for the ribs much.
I'm a 'pulled-pork' and rib man.
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This says it all : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ubTQfr_tyY
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This says it all : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ubTQfr_tyY
Good One!!!
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Don't you mean 'Sweettea'? ;D
No suger in my iced tea and don't call me "sweetea" or "shurley". ;D We'll smoke our beef ribs and half of them we'll sauce'em when done and cook that sauce on. I like most all kinds of bbq. I ate a hamburger in columbia,s.c. that they put a scoop of cold slaw on it. It was different but good.That video made me hungry.
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No suger in my iced tea and don't call me "sweetea" or "shurley". ;D We'll smoke our beef ribs and half of them we'll sauce'em when done and cook that sauce on. I like most all kinds of bbq. I ate a hamburger in columbia,s.c. that they put a scoop of cold slaw on it. It was different but good.That video made me hungry.
I've always wondered, how do you keep them lit?
8)
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IT IS AND WE LIKE IT!! We bbq different ways but that's only one of them. We also like iced tea and beans in our chilli ! ;D
Why would you put iced tea in your chili?!?
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Chilli with beans. Yes please! Don't forget the corn bread!!! :)
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Why would you put iced tea in your chili?!?
Good one smarta$$ ;D I fixed it.
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Good one smarta$$ ;D I fixed it.
Why would you call it smart ??? I've seen that a$$, covered fortunately, and I'd call it anything but smart ;)
Even with mommy gone I feel the need to say stuff like that to justify my time over here in the party room corner ;D
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In order to provide equal disclosure and all info, I felt obliged to post the reply letter received in an email yesterday from Sonny's concerning the matter in the OP. Mr. Davis maintains that the reason he did not comply with the updated contractual mandates in 2007 was due to not wanting to sell alcohol. All in all, and having heard both sides of the issue, it appears to me that Davis wanted out of a contract so that he could have total say-so over his business affairs and he and Sonny's parted company amicably as far as he is concerned.
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your email and your concern for the Tifton closure. We hope to retain your patronage and provide you with all the information regarding this issue.
This location did not close because the servers were wearing inappropriate uniforms or religious emblems were found in the restaurant. We respect the rights and liberties of not only our guests, but our franchisees as business owners, to practice any religion they choose. As I am sure you can understand, as a chain, we do have policies and system standards in place to ensure that we as a company are non-partisan, both politically and religiously.
This location was closed after the license agreement was not renewed by the franchisee owner in December of 2007. Many extensions and additional opportunities were granted to the franchisee. System standards that apply to the entire chain were not met by this franchisee on several occasions and unfortunately, this location had to close.
As I am sure you know, Sonny’s is a good community partner and responsible corporate citizens. We will continue to be that for the entire chain and for the communities in which we live and work.
We hope that you will continue to visit Sonny’s as we welcome you and all the members of your family.
Kindest Regards,
Tina Kuhn
Marketing Communications Coordinator
tkuhn@sonnysbbq.com
Sonny's Franchise Company
2605 Maitland Center Parkway Suite C
Maitland, FL 32751-7139
407.660.8888
407.660.9050
www.sonnysbbq.com
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I like mine cooked with the sauce or just a damn good dry rub. To me Sonny's meat didn't have any taste and the cold sauce was a turn off. YMMV
Contract issue or now, this is just plain wrong. I don't care where you're from, cold BBQ on hot meat is wrong!