King County – Dick’s Drive-In turns 70 years old this month and is kicking off a year of celebrations with 19 cent burgers at specific locations all day, January 23rd – January 25th.
January 23rd: Wallingford, Broadway, Lake City
January 24th: Holman Road, Crossroads, Federal Way
January 25th: Edmonds, Queen Anne, Kent
When the original founders, Dick Spady, Warren Ghormley and Dr. B.O.A. “Thom” Thomas opened the first Dick’s Drive-In location in Wallingford on NE 45th ST on January 28th, 1954, they sold hamburgers for 19 cents in Seattle’s first quick service hamburger restaurant. “The local price for hamburgers at the time was 35 cents,” said Jasmine Donovan, President of Dick’s Drive-In and granddaughter of the namesake Dick Spady. “Not many people believed that selling burgers for 19 cents, especially with a commitment to quality ingredients, could succeed, but for our customers it was love at first bite and here we are 70 years later.”
To learn more about this event please visit https://www.ddir.com/19-cent-burgers/
Dick’s Drive-In plans to celebrate their 70th anniversary throughout the year in 2024. “We’re looking forward to celebrating with our customers, employees and communities, all the amazing memories from the last 70 years and imagining together what the next 70 years will look like,” said Donovan. The iconic local restaurant brand is soon opening reservations for the always sold out Ricardo’s Club 19 Valentine’s Day event, hosting car shows, and celebrating with a 70th Anniversary Party this summer!
In addition to serving quality food, fast and inexpensively, Dick’s Drive-In is also known for providing the best wages and benefits in the industry. Crew members start at $21 per hour and receive regular merit raises up to $26 per hour as they gain skills in the restaurant. All employees receive 100% employer paid health insurance, access to a $28,000 college scholarship benefit or child care tuition assistance, and promotion opportunities. All managers are promoted from within and every Dick’s Drive-In restaurant manager started as a crew member.
Dick’s Drive-In’s RoundUp for Charity program has raised over two and a half million dollars for nine local charity partners including Compass Housing Alliance, Mary’s Place, FareStart and Cocoon house. “Investing in our communities has been a part of our business model from the beginning,” says Donovan. “By cleaning up trash in our neighborhoods, creating high-quality jobs, improving access to educational opportunities through our scholarship program and donating to local charities, we know, when our community thrives our business will thrive.”