The Tri-Cities is one step closer to getting its first location of a popular Portland-area burger joint.

The city of Kennewick recently issued building permits for the former Sonic Drive-In at 8600 Gage Blvd., and representatives from Vancouver-based Burgerville have confirmed it is a future location for the brand.

The building permits, which put the project at more than $340,000, will allow Burgerville to add an 880-square-foot dining room onto the building.

According to drawings submitted to the city, the dining room will be added to the front of the building facing Gage, where Sonic once provided outdoor covered seating for customers. Plans also call for a small addition on the building’s east side to provide access to the restrooms from the dining area.

No opening date has been announced. Burgerville representatives told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that they had no updates on the project at this time.

The contractor and architecture firm listed on the building permit applications, T.J. Nisbet Construction Inc. and LLB Architecture, have worked with Burgerville in the past.

The Kennewick and Pasco locations of Sonic, as well as eight other sites in Oregon and Washington, were previously held by Olympic Cascade Drive Ins LLC of Poulsbo.

The local Sonic restaurants closed in 2022 in the wake of a federal lawsuit by Sonic Drive-Ins, the parent company, against franchisee Olympic Cascade for missed royalty and fee payments, as well as reports of unsafe food and drinks being served.

The lawsuit was dismissed more than a year ago following a negotiated settlement, the terms of which were not disclosed.

Burgerville was founded in 1961 by George Propstra in Vancouver. It is currently owned by The Holland Inc. and has 40 locations, most in close proximity to the Portland metropolitan area.

As its name implies, Burgerville is notable for its hamburgers but also for its fries and shakes. More than 75% of its menu comes from Pacific Northwest-sourced products such as Tillamook cheddar cheese and onion rings made from Walla Walla onions.

The company is also big on sustainability, having its used fry oil converted to biodiesel and buying enough credits for wind-generated power to cover the power needs of all its facilities.

Its newest location opened in June in Bend, Oregon. Burgerville also recently opened a restaurant in Salem, Oregon, at the site of another former Sonic Drive-In also operated by Olympic Cascade.