Adding an s to the end of a place?

Question

Hello I am in an argument with my room mate. I tell him I am going to JC Penneys and he says no, "it is JC Penney, not JC Penneys.". I let it go. I then say I am going to Sonics, He says no the store name is Sonic so you are going to Sonic. My written grammar/english suck because I am lazy, but saying "I am going to Sonic" or "I want to go to Sonic tomorrow" just doesn't sound right, and he is clearly wrong. But he needs proof. Help me!

Based on the responses it seems I should just say the stores name how it is. For instance McDonalds, Wendy's, Sears, etc all include the s already, while places like Sonic don't. Saying Sonic probably just sounds weird to me because I have only recently discovered it, and I probably say JC Penneys because back at home my family (myself included) used to refer to it as Penneys, and so I added the JC part because thats what everyone over here uses. I would never be caught dead adding an s to a place like Burger king, Subway, etc though.

Answer 1

I'd say you're adding an "s" as a genitive saxon beacuse you're making an omission. When you say I'm going to JC Penny's you mean the store so you're really saying "to JC Penny's store).
In the same way the british say Chemist's instead of Chemist's shop (for drugstore).
Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Sorry to tell you, but he's right.

You could say, "I'm going to Tom's", as the place belongs to Tom.

But when you're talking about a place that has a specific name, you don't call it by name, and then make it possessive. JC Penney is called JC Penney. It's not a store belonging to a guy named JC Penney, but instead a store called JC Penney. Sonic is called Sonic...it isn't something Sonic possesses, so you can't call it Sonic's.

It's like someone saying to you, "Hi Pat's!"

Answer 3

It depends on the place you're talking about. Some places like "Sears" have the "S" in there already. But some places (you mentioned JC Penney) does not have an "S". I don't think what you said sounds incorrect though. And you're right, who says "I'm going to Sonic"? That sounds retarted, lol.

Answer 4

With a store or business named after a person you can legitimately say "I am going to JC Penney's" as it is his or her store. "I am going to Sonic's" just sounds dumb. "Taco Bell's"? "Pizza Hut's"? No. Kohl's? Yes it's in the name. Sear's? No. Sears? Yes. It's the name.

Similarly here in Michigan we have a store called Meijer, which we often call "Meijer's". But we never say "Walmart's". Although lots say "the Walmart" but that's another question.

Answer 5

You do not add an 's' to the end of a name of a place. Say the name of the place as it is.

Answer 6

The s is absolutely correct in the English language. It means ...store, ..place,...restaurant etc. without adding it to your statement.

Answer 7

im pretty sure it would be correct without an s