The Royal Coach Diner, once a go-to spot for late-night plates on Boston Road in Allerton, is getting carved in half and handed over to two fast-food heavyweights. Contractors are gutting and splitting the single building so Sonic and Zaxby's can each claim a side, a move that would bring both chains into the Bronx for the first time and permanently rewrite the story of this busy corner.
Workers on site say one half of the former diner will house Sonic and the other will become a Zaxby's. Chain representatives have already floated opening timelines. As reported by News 12, a Sonic spokesperson said the brand is aiming for an early May debut with counter service and delivery, although a drive-thru has not been confirmed. A Zaxby's representative told News 12 the Bronx restaurant is expected this summer, following an already announced Manhattan location.
Property, Permits and Hires
The corner lot at 3260 Boston Road is being pitched as a quick-serve dream: a 4,600 square foot building sitting on a 27,500 square foot lot, with roughly 200 feet of frontage and on-site parking. Those features, brokers say, make the site especially attractive for fast-food operations and potential drive-thru service. The site's marketing brochure from Pinnacle Realty lays out the lot and building specs in detail.
A current Sonic recruiting post lists 3260 Boston Road as the new store address and notes that new hires will train at a Harlem location before transferring up to the Bronx, a sign that the company is already ramping up behind the scenes.
Neighbors Split On The Change
For some Bronx residents, watching the Royal Coach sit dark and then transform into something else has been rough. Longtime customers told local reporters that seeing the diner close was "heartbreaking," while other neighbors complained that the block already has more than enough fried food and voiced concern about yet another national chain moving in, according to News 12.
The Royal Coach shut its doors in November 2024 after owners cited pandemic impacts and rising costs, a closure previously reported by the Bronx Times. For many locals, Sonic and Zaxby's will mark a clear break from the sit-down, neighborhood-staple vibe that defined the corner for decades.
What To Expect Next
Sonic's recruiting materials show the company is hiring now, advertising paid training and pointing to an opening schedule that lines up with that early May target. Zaxby's, according to its representatives, is on track for a later summer launch.
Brokers and the property marketing pitch highlight the generous lot size and long frontage as reasons the conversion can move quickly. Still, the real test will be city approvals, remaining permits and tenant build-out work, which will ultimately decide whether those promised opening dates turn into reality or get pushed back. For now, Allerton is watching its old-school diner turn into a fast-food twofer in real time.
