Dick's Drive-In
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast food |
| Founded | Wallingford, Seattle, Washington (1954) |
| Headquarters | Seattle |
| Number of locations | 6 |
| Key people | Founders: Dick Spady, H. Warren Ghormley, Dr. B. O. A. Thomas |
| Products | Hamburgers, fries, shakes, sodas, and ice cream. |
| Website | www.ddir.com/ |
Dick's Drive-In, or simply Dick's, is a fast-food restaurant chain in the Seattle, Washington area.
History
Founders Dick Spady, H. Warren Ghormley, and Dr. B. O. A. Thomas opened the first Dick's in 1954 in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood, on N.E. 45th Street. In 1955, a second Dick's was opened in Seattle's Capitol Hill district. This was followed by a third in 1960 in the Crown Hill neighborhood, a 4th in 1963 in Lake City, a fifth in Queen Anne in 1974. In September 2010, it was announced that Dick's was planning on opening a new sixth location in the Seattle area and that an online poll on their website would determine the new location.[1] After a few weeks of polling, the area north of Seattle won the right for a new Dick's Drive-In. On October 15, 2010, Dick's officials announced the new location to be in Edmonds on the corner of Hwy 99 and 220th St.[2] All but the Queen Anne location are without customer seating. The Queen Anne location has indoor tables and no drive-in. The restaurants only accept cash; there are no ways to use electronic forms of payment.
The simple menu has changed little over time. It features fast-food staples such as hamburgers, hand-cut french fries, and individually made milkshakes. Dick's is particularly well known for the "Dick's Deluxe," which includes lettuce, mayonnaise, and chopped pickles. Cashiers do not accept variations on the burger's preparation, or omissions such as asking for the burger without lettuce, but will serve the Deluxe without cheese.[3][4]
For several years Dick's has offered best-in-industry employee benefits such as a matched 401(k), 100% employer-paid medical insurance, and a $22,000 college tuition scholarship after six months of work.[5]
In 2013, Dick's Drive-In was voted "the most life-changing burger joint in America" in an Esquire.com poll.[6]
In popular culture
- Seattle rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot identifies the Capitol Hill location of Dick's in his song, Posse on Broadway.
- In the 2009 romantic comedy Love Happens, actress Jennifer Aniston can be seen holding a Dick's bag. The film was set in Seattle.
- Gianna Michaels, a pornographic actress, was once an employee.[7]
- In The Presidents of the United States of America's song "Little Indian Princess", the Seattle natives mention wanting to "spend my loose change on a fist-sized ice cream cone at Dick's."
- In 2013, Seattle hiphop artist Macklemore filmed portions of a music video for his song "White Walls" at Dick's Drive-In.[8]
Locations
- Wallingford
- Capitol Hill
- Crown Hill
- Lake City
- Lower Queen Anne
- Edmonds, Washington (Opened on October 20, 2011)
- Bellevue, Washington (now closed)
It should be noted that there is a Dick's Hamburgers restaurant in Spokane.[9] Although this drive-in is operated in much the same manner as the Dick's Drive-Ins in Seattle but offers more items, this Spokane drive-in is not affiliated with the Dick's Drive-Ins of Seattle.
References
- ↑ McNerthey, Casey (2010-08-31). "Dick's Drive-In to open new location". Seattle Post-Intelligencer Business Journal (Seattle). Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ↑ "A new Dick's Drive-In is coming to Edmonds!". Dick's Media Room, Press Releases. 2010-10-15. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
- ↑ Kelly, Leslie (2008-05-23). "The trick at Dick's? Hold the cheese on a deluxe burger". Seattle PI. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
- ↑ Spady, Richard; O'Connor, Kathleen L. (2012). Spady, John, ed. Dick Spady: A Life of Visions and Values. pp. 39–42. ISBN 0615496407.
- ↑ Spady, Richard; O'Connor, Kathleen L. (2012). Spady, John, ed. Dick Spady: A Life of Visions and Values. pp. 43–44. ISBN 0615496407.
- ↑ "Secrets of the Most Life Changing Burger Joint". Esquire Magazine. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- ↑ Inside The Porn Star Studio (2007-01-10). "Inside Gianna". Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- ↑ Macklemore films video at iconic Seattle hamburger venue
- ↑ "Dick's Hamburgers". Yelp. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dick's Drive-In. |