Seattle’s famed Dick’s Drive-Ins announces historic expansion

Where to build the next Dick’s Drive-In Restaurant? That is the question. After 36 years and millions of burgers and fries, Seattle’s famed Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants announced plans to build a new drive-in somewhere in the Seattle metro area by calling on customers and fans to help select the next location. The expansion is the first new Dick’s Drive-In for the company since the Queen Anne Dick’s opened in 1974.

“We are very excited to make this historic expansion after 36 years,” says Jim Spady, vice president of Dick’s Drive-Ins and son of co-founder and namesake, Dick Spady. 

“And we want to involve our customers and the community, asking everyone to help us find the best location for our next restaurant.”

Spady added that an online poll has been setup at DicksDriveIn.com for people to register their top pick for a new location. “We’re looking to the north, south and east of our current five Seattle locations to make it more convenient for customers to enjoy our famous burgers, fries, and shakes,” Spady says.

Dick’s Drive-Ins is known for having the region’s highest wages and employee benefits within the fast food industry including college scholarships of up to $18,000 per employee. “Taking care of our employees is one of the key foundations of our business,” says Dick Spady, president and co-founder of Dick’s. “This community has been so good to us for 56 years. We’re grateful to be in a position where we can create more jobs during a time when good jobs are hard to find.”

Dick Spady, who turns 87 in October, recalled how great it was to launch a successful business after being repeatedly told by local bankers that he couldn't possibly make a profit selling 19 cent burgers because there were restaurants all over Seattle selling burgers for 30 cents and losing money.

“After 56 years, hiring tens of thousands of employees, and providing over $1 million to our employees in college scholarships, I’m glad we didn’t listen to those who told us ‘it wouldn’t work.’ Quality food, served quickly at low prices was a great idea in 1954 and it still is,” Dick says.

The first Dick’s Drive-In opened on NE 45th Street in Wallingford on January 28th, 1954. Burgers were 19 cents, fries 11 cents, and shakes 21 cents. “Some things have changed,” says Spady, “but we still use fresh beef and buns that have never been frozen, we still hand-cut our fries from real potatoes, and we still hand-dip and individually whip our shakes.This tradition of quality will continue at the new restaurant.”

“Another change is how our customers communicate,” says Spady. “Our Facebook page has over 100,000 friends and continues to grow as an online community passionate about great burgers, fries and shakes.”

To join the official Dick’s Drive-In Facebook burger community, go to facebook.com/dicksdrivein

To register your top pick for the new restaurant location, go to DicksDriveIn.com and

take the instant poll.

Update: Our NewsPartner, LynnwoodToday.com said that the Dick's website has been hacked.

A posting on Dick’s Facebook page said, “We’ve been hacked! Those cheaters are trying to cook the poll numbers. We know who you are and we’re pulling your burger privileges. Do not fear loyal fans, we’re scrubbing the numbers and should have an accurate count by Thursday — Keep voting!”