As a kid growing up in Kansas, Mark Cain never really thought he’d be involved in the restaurant business.

“My dad owned Pizza Hut restaurants for 40 years, and starting at age 10, I was spending my summers working at Pizza Huts around the Midwest,” Cain recalls. “I just didn’t think I wanted to be in that business when I was young. First, it was such hard work and secondly the hours seemed endless.”

That sentiment changed as Mark grew older, graduated from Kansas University with a degree in business and economics and was employed in various sales positions across the country. “Working for someone else got old really fast,” Cain says.

When his brother called him in Kansas City eight years ago and asked if he wanted to open a Sonic Drive-In restaurant in the Carson City area, he was all for it. “My brother and I loved that restaurant as kids growing up in the Midwest,” he says, talking about the countless burgers, fries and shakes consumed at the neighborhood Sonic.

Today, Cain and his wife Kimberly ­— a Fallon native who has a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. — own and operate three Sonic Drive-In restaurants in Reno, Carson City and Fallon. In August, they’ll open a fourth store in the Spanish Springs area, at Los Altos Boulevard and Pyramid Highway. The Cains currently are searching for two more sites for Sonic Drive-Ins planned for northeast and southwest Reno. Financing is being provided by Irwin Finance Capital; previous financing was provided locally by Silver State Bank and Bank of the West.

“We were thrilled when we had the opportunity to move here and open our Sonic restaurants,” Mark says. “Kim was especially happy because she grew up here and has friends and family in Fallon.” Mark also has grown to love the area, especially the people, schools and recreation opportunities.

“The chance to work with Sonic Corporation in Oklahoma City was a tremendous opportunity for us. Sonic Drive-Ins in the Midwest are what In-N-Out restaurants are to the West Coast. They’re a true institution in drive-in dining,” Mark says.

Sonic Drive-In restaurants — with their roller-skating carhops and extensive menus — are part of a proven concept in “quick-service or fast food restaurants” that has been around for 53 years, adds Kimberly. “Sonic was pretty much an unknown when we opened the restaurant in Carson City eight years ago,” she says. But the idea of carhops and drive-in restaurants has caught on. “It’s the whole drive-in restaurant experience that people enjoy most about it. Music is playing; carhops skate up to your car window and talk to you, and the food is homemade and delicious. We offer a personal touch that most quick-service restaurants are lacking,” Kimberly asserts.

Running the restaurants is a huge time commitment seven days a week, Mark adds. “Sure, we get called at 4 a.m. when the alarm goes off by accident, and we have to go to work when employees don’t show up, but all that’s getting better,” he says. Part of that is bringing on more management and supervisors for the stores. Allan Catellier supervises all three of the existing Sonics, and he’s been with the Cains for six years. “Managers can make good money — $55,000 to $90,000 a year,” Mark says. “It’s not unusual for employees to stick with Sonic for years.”

Employees like working at Sonic Drive-Ins. Cain says the employee turnover rate at his restaurants is less than 100 percent, while the annual turnover rate for most quick-service restaurants is closer to 400 percent.

“Business has been good,” Mark says. “We’re up 20 percent this year in terms of sales year-to-date. Our overhead here is fairly low since we own the ground and the buildings at our three existing Sonics.” Also, Kimberly does the books and serves as office manager.

“Sonic Corporation provides the system and as long as you put it in place, then it works,” Kimberly says. “If you expect your management team or employees to do something, then you have to be willing to do it yourself, from cleaning the dumpster area to scrubbing toilets,” she says.

While the enterprise is labor intensive, the Cains enjoy carhopping, talking to customers and watching the businesses grow. “We provide opportunities for people through jobs and promotions, and we make our guests happy,” Mark says. “It can be frustrating and tough work sometimes, but mostly it’s rewarding and enjoyable. We’re definitely here to stay.”