Website Redesign for MHR Austin Sonics:Serving Up Digital Excellence for a Fast Food Icon
About The Project
MHR Austin Sonics, part of MHR (the parent company that operates over 300 SONIC stores nationwide), manages 60 SONIC Drive-In restaurants across Central Texas. Since opening their first location in 1973, they've built a 50-year legacy of Texas hospitality while serving loyal customers from Llano to Rockdale and Lampasas to Cibolo.
Challenge
MHR Austin Sonics needed a website that could effectively showcase their deep community roots while serving multiple distinct audiences: customers, potential employees, and community partners. Their existing digital presence failed to communicate their extensive community involvement, career pathways, and franchise legacy. They needed a platform that would highlight their core values while providing practical functionality for diverse user needs.
What we delivered
- A modern, intuitive Squarespace website that balances brand storytelling with practical user pathways
- Multi-audience design that clearly segments content for customers, job seekers, and community partners
- Mobile-optimized interface that ensures seamless experiences across all devices
- Integrated functionality for order-ahead services and career applications
Tech Stack
Services
- User Experience Strategy
- Content Architecture
- Website Redesign
- Custom Squarespace Development
- Content Migration
Balancing Heritage with Modern Functionality
The central challenge was creating a digital experience that honored MHR Austin Sonics' 50-year history while delivering modern e-commerce and recruitment functionality. We developed a content strategy that wove their community legacy throughout the site while ensuring easy access to practical features like online ordering and job applications.
Highlighting Community Impact
We transformed their community involvement from a secondary element into a cornerstone of their digital identity. The redesign showcases their fundraising achievements ($241,912 raised) and creates clear pathways for schools and organizations to partner with them, reinforcing their position as a community-focused business rather than just another fast food chain.
Creating Clear Career Pathways
Recruitment was a key business objective. We designed an engaging careers section that illustrates clear advancement opportunities—from Carhop to Director—complete with personality-driven role descriptions and transparent salary information. This approach positions MHR Austin Sonics as an employer of choice in a competitive hiring market.
Results of collaboration
Enhanced community engagement with streamlined partner program access
Optimized user journeys that serve multiple audiences without confusion
Optimized user journeys that serve multiple audiences without confusion
Optimized user journeys that serve multiple audiences without confusion
In conclusion
Our Squarespace redesign transformed MHR Austin Sonics' digital presence into a platform that authentically reflects their core values while serving distinct business objectives. The new website functions as both a vibrant community hub and a powerful business tool that supports their continued growth across Central Texas.
