The SONIC drive-in restaurant on Street Road, which opened in 2008 and closed in January, will soon reopen under new ownership and management.

The franchise plans to hire 80-100 employees, 20-40 of which will be full time, according to company officials.

Don Welsh, one of three members of a SONIC franchise group, said the restaurant will reopen next month.

"We're shooting for mid to late May," he said.

"We're going to a lot of remodeling," he added.

That includes new kitchen equipment, redone bathrooms and new patio furniture.

Welsh, a Chester County resident, indicated reopening the Bensalem site was an easy decision for his group, which owns and operates eight other SONICs in Montgomery, Berks and Lancaster counties.

"Bensalem is a great town and it's a great location," he said. "Every time you see one close, you want to reopen it."

He said his group is dedicated to making the local SONIC "an active participant in the community."

"We typically donate 1 percent of our top-line sales (net sales) to the community," he told Patch.

Welsh added that the group has a history of assisting local schools, churches, police and fire departments, Little League teams and other activity groups.

"Our general motto is to not turn down anyone who asks for help," he said.

Positions available include shift leaders, crew members and SONIC’s signature skating Carhops who deliver orders to customers who are in their cars or sitting on the patio.

Those interested in joining the drive-in crew can visit the SONIC at 1525 Street Road on Wednesday, April 25 and Saturday, April 28. SONIC representatives will be taking applications and conducting interviews from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Candidates can pick up applications at the drive-in beginning Monday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SONIC specializes in made-to-order fast food. It is the nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants, with more than 3,500 drive-ins in 43 states coast to coast, according to a company press release.