Former Bumpers / Sonic location torn down

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

What was once a popular teen hangout on Madison and currently is an eyesore is finally coming down. Bumpers, formerly a Sonic Drive-in the 1970s, met the wrecking ball Monday as Toby Gammell went to work to clear the property of the structure. According to the city codes department, the property is owned by Dr. S.L. Sethi of Canton, Mo., who intends to sell the lot and others he owns that are attached to it.
(T-G Photo by David Melson) [Order this photo]

Comments

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I know it is/was a bad eyesore but lots of good memories from teenage days went with it..

-- Posted by Cindy Munsey on Wed, Oct 14, 2009, at 10:53 AM

was wondering if t-g has pictures of Sonic/Bumpers when it was a booming business?

-- Posted by Cindy Munsey on Wed, Oct 14, 2009, at 11:11 AM

I know it needed to go but I am like Cindy....many fond memories as Sonic was my first job and I made many trips around it while out with my friends. I was a carhop in the very early 80's.

Diane Neeley

-- Posted by Mama D on Wed, Oct 14, 2009, at 11:14 AM

What do they plan to do with the location?

-- Posted by Truffin on Wed, Oct 14, 2009, at 12:06 PM

Cindy, I'm hoping to find some 1970s photos of Sonic to put on my 'Picturing the Past' blog. I remember it well from the mid-to-late 1970s -- both eating there and cruising around and around it.

-- Posted by David Melson on Wed, Oct 14, 2009, at 1:34 PM

Yes I had some good memories of the and I look at it everytime I go by it.

-- Posted by RD33 on Wed, Oct 14, 2009, at 7:50 PM

Marion Tackett opened this store in the mid-70's, not only did he bring back to Shelbyville a classic drive-in, he gave many opportunities to the young people from here. The Tackett Family were great supporters of the athletic teams in Bedford County. Mr. Tackett in the later 70's opened The Pizza Inn a couple blocks eastward on the opposite side of Madison Street. Many memories were created there. We should be wise to log those thoughts and keep them so when we are older we can remember when.

-- Posted by abner_t on Wed, Oct 14, 2009, at 7:58 PM

I'm afraid this officially brings my teenage years to a close.

The Tacketts are/were a great family. So much of my teenage years revolved around that place and that family. Suffice it to say, I still have a very special place in my heart for carhops.

BTW, I lost a 5$ bill there back in the 70's. If they find it, I got first dibs.

-- Posted by Tim Baker on Wed, Oct 14, 2009, at 10:06 PM

I WORKED AT THE OLD NATIONAL PEN & PENCIL ABOVE EATON . WE HAD 30 MIN. FOR LUNCH WE WENT TO EAT ALOT.WE WOULD CALL IN OUR ORDER AND THEY WOULD HAVE IT READY WHEN WE GOT THERE.UM UM CHILI DOG WITH ONIONS WAS OUR FAV.

-- Posted by nana x 5 on Thu, Oct 15, 2009, at 3:54 PM

Sorry for the lost memories on this one, but hats off to the Codes Department for making this happen.

Brett the Viking

5-0 baby

-- Posted by Brett Favre on Thu, Oct 15, 2009, at 6:18 PM

I will have to agree that is was a good move for codes.I just wish it could have been used before it was a total loss,like several years ago.It has been beyond repair a long time.

-- Posted by Cindy Munsey on Sat, Oct 17, 2009, at 8:57 AM

Many trips around the loop ended there. The Tacketts probably will never know the influence that they had on SO many kids. And as for the memories you guys, keep them in your heart FOREVER.

-- Posted by GOT THE T-SHIRT on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 7:37 PM

To All -

The Tacket's worked for my family. We owned and operated the Sonic/Bumpers along with the Pizza Inn for the entire time they were open. I will share your comments with my father, I know it will warm his heart to know how much the businesses meant to the community. We currently have no plans for the site but would be glad to sell either to anyone interested.

Thanks,

Sunny Sethi

ssethi731@aol.com

-- Posted by SunnyS on Wed, Nov 4, 2009, at 12:31 PM