Dick's Drive-In

Dick's Drive-In
Private
Industry Fast food
Founded Wallingford, Seattle, Washington (1954)
Founders Dick Spady, H. Warren Ghormley, Dr. B. O. A. Thomas
Headquarters Seattle
Number of locations
 6
Key people
 Jim Spady (CEO)
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

Dick's original location in Wallingford on a summer night.

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.

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. No substitutions are allowed and all burgers are cooked to well done; the only available omissions are the Deluxe without cheese or fries without salt.[1][2]

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.[3]

In 2013, Dick's Drive-In was voted "the most life-changing burger joint in America" in an Esquire.com poll.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] All but the Queen Anne location are without customer seating. The Queen Anne location has indoor tables and no drive-in.

In 2017, Dick's launched another poll to determine its seventh location, either located on the Eastside or in South King County.[7] Over 177,000 participants cast their votes, with the majority favoring the South region.[8] Locations being considered include Kent, West Seattle, South Seattle, Renton, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila, Auburn, Normandy Park, Des Moines and Federal Way.[9]

Locations

There is also a Dick's Hamburgers restaurant in Spokane.[12] Although this is a drive-in, operated in much the same manner as the five drive-in locations of the Seattle chain (and with a larger menu), it is not affiliated with Dick's Drive-In.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Kelly, Leslie (May 23, 2008). "The trick at Dick's? Hold the cheese on a deluxe burger". Seattle PI. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  2. ↑ Spady, Richard; O'Connor, Kathleen L. (2012). Spady, John, ed. Dick Spady: A Life of Visions and Values. pp. 39–42. ISBN 0615496407.
  3. ↑ Spady, Richard; O'Connor, Kathleen L. (2012). Spady, John, ed. Dick Spady: A Life of Visions and Values. pp. 43–44. ISBN 0615496407.
  4. ↑ "Secrets of the Most Life Changing Burger Joint". Esquire Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  5. ↑ McNerthey, Casey (August 31, 2010). "Dick's Drive-In to open new location". Seattle Post-Intelligencer Business Journal. Seattle. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  6. ↑ "A new Dick's Drive-In is coming to Edmonds!" (Press release). Dick's Drive In. October 15, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  7. ↑ Gutman, David (March 6, 2017). "Dick's Drive-In to open new location — and you can vote on where". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Dick's Drive-In to build new location south of Seattle". KIRO 7 News. March 27, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  9. ↑ Hunter, Steve (April 12, 2017). "Kent promotes West Hill site for new Dick’s Drive-In". Kent Reporter. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  10. ↑ Macklemore films video at iconic Seattle hamburger venue
  11. ↑ Gering, David (April 24, 1988). "Nostalgia to go: Dick's has been Seattle's taste in burgers for nearly 35 years". The Seattle Times. p. K1.
  12. ↑ "Dick's Hamburgers". Yelp. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  13. ↑ Clement, Bethany Jean (January 13, 2016). "Co-founder of Dick's Drive-In gave us famed burgers — and so much more". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
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