Category Archives: Press Release

DDIR Kent Groundbreaking Ceremony!

Construction Begins on the new Dick’s Drive-In in Kent with ground breaking ceremony!

King County – On Tuesday, April 3rd at 11:30AM members of the Spady family, Dick’s Drive-Ins employees, the Mayor of the City of Kent and five memory fan winners will break ground on the new Dick’s Drive-In’s in Kent, located 24220 Pacific Highway South, in the Midway shopping center, next to Lowe’s.

“We’re so excited to begin construction,” says Jasmine Donovan, Executive Vice President of Dick’s Drive-In and granddaughter of the co-founder and namesake, Dick Spady. “For our fans in south King County we know it’s been a long wait and we thank you for your patience. We want to thank everyone at the City of Kent for all of their hard work in helping us reach this milestone.”

“It’s a great day for our company! We look forward to bringing great food and great first-time jobs to the communities of south King County with the opening of this new location in the fall,” said Jim Spady, President of Dick’s Drive-In and son of Dick Spady.

“Dick’s Drive-in has been a Seattle icon since the 1950s. We are beyond excited that the Dick’s family has chosen Kent as its next location, and we are honored to be a part of today’s event. I am sure the entire Kent community joins me in welcoming Dick’s to Kent’s West Hill. We can’t wait to order our first Dick’s Deluxe burger and fries so close to home, and we wish you many years of success!” – Mayor Dana Ralph, City of Kent

When Dick’s announced last March that they wanted to open a seventh location, once again they let their fans decide where to go. The new site selection process included an online customer poll that resulted in over 170,000 votes, 100,000 of which came in the first 24 hours. On March 27th, 2017, the company announced on Facebook Live that the south region had won with 60% of the vote.

When it came down to finding the right site, Dick’s Drive-In enlisted the help of a great team from the Kidder Matthews’ Tacoma office, Jeff Kraft and Cramer Foster.

The original Dick’s Drive-In location opened in the 1954 on NE 45th street in Wallingford. The most recent restaurant built was the Edmonds location which opened in 2011 after a similar customer poll directed the company to find property to the north of Seattle. The new location in Kent will maintain the original restaurant’s iconic 1950’s look and architecture.

We are also excited that Highline Community College student body president Vanessa Primer and Cool Bird will be joining us. Click HERE for our announcement video and a video of the Thunderbirds’ mascot campaigning for Dick’s Drive-In to open its next location in Kent.

Media Advisory: It’s finally here: The announcement of the south location!

Dick’s Drive-In is making a major announcement regarding our new restaurant location. A press conference is scheduled as follows:

When: Thursday, September 7^th 10:00AM

Where: Dick’s Drive-In location in Wallingford: 111 NE 45^th St, Seattle WA 98105

The original Dick’s Drive-In opened in 1954 on Northeast 45th Street in Wallingford. The most recent restaurant built was the Edmonds location, which opened in 2011. The new restaurant will be the seventh Dick’s Drive-In. For all current locations go to www.ddir.com/locations

Check out Facebook for our location announcement video Facebook.com/DicksDriveIn

Dick’s Drive-In website back up and running after crashing yesterday morning. Over 100 thousand votes in 24 hours.

Seattle – Dick’s Drive-In announced yesterday plans to build a new restaurant either east or south of their current locations. They called on customers to help select the next location online at www.ddir.com. Seconds after the announcement, thousands of eager customers went to their website to vote, and it couldn’t handle the volume.

Twenty-four hours after the announcement, the site is back up and running and over 100,000 votes have been cast. Currently, the South region is in the lead.

“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love,” says Jim Spady, President of Dick’s Drive-Ins and son of co-founder and namesake, Dick Spady. “We’d love to build in both regions right away, but we are a small family business and we have to pick one. It’s wonderful that so many of our customers want to help us choose where we build next.”

“We’ve transitioned to a new server and should be able to handle the volume now,” says Jasmine Donovan, Vice President. “Bring on the votes and the keep the e-mails coming.” She reports that the company has received over a thousand e-mails with location suggestions.

The poll will be open for about three weeks. Stay tuned on Facebook for voting updates.

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 over the years,” says Spady, “but we still use fresh, never-frozen beef and buns, we still hand-cut our fries from real potatoes, and we still hand-dip and individually whip our shakes. Our tradition of quality food, instant service, taking care of our employees and investing in our communities will continue as we grow.”

Dick’s Drive-In is known for having the highest wages and benefits in the local fast food industry including offering $25,000 college scholarships for all employees working at least 20 hours a week. For more information on Dick’s wages and benefits go to www.ddir.com/employment.

To vote East or South go to www.ddir.com. Limit 2 votes per email.

To stay up to date on all Dick’s Drive-In news “Like” the official Dick’s Drive-In Facebook page at facebook.com/dicksdrivein

CONTACT: Jasmine Donovan or Saul Spady:

(206) 321-1045 – Saul Spady; Media Representative

(206) 877-2101 – Jasmine Donovan; Vice-President Dick’s Drive-In

Dick’s Drive-In to open new location. You decide: East or South?

Seattle – Dick’s Drive-In announced today plans to build a new restaurant either east or south of their current locations. They are calling on customers to help select the next location online at www.ddir.com. The expansion is the first new restaurant for the company since the Edmonds Dick’s Drive-In opened in October of 2011.

“Five years ago, when the north region won our 2010 poll, we promised our customers that we would continue to expand east and south if our north location was a success,” says Jim Spady, President of Dick’s Drive-Ins and son of co-founder and namesake, Dick Spady. “Opening our location in Edmonds was an incredible experience and we’re very happy to ask our customers to again help us decide where we build next!”

“As a family business, we are thrilled to expand opportunities for more families to make memories with us,” says Jasmine Donovan, Vice President and Jim Spady’s daughter. “It shouldn’t be just Seattle kids like my two young sons who have their first french fry at Dick’s.”

To vote East or South go to www.ddir.com. Limit 2 votes per email.

To stay up to date on all Dick’s Drive-In news “Like” the official Dick’s Drive-In Facebook page at facebook.com/dicksdrivein

CONTACT: Jasmine Donovan or Saul Spady:
(206) 321-1045 – Saul Spady; Media Representative
(206) 877-2101 – Jasmine Donovan; Vice-President Dick’s Drive-In

WHAT DO YOU DO ON A FALL SUNDAY IN SEATTLE WHEN THE HAWKS HAVE A BYE? GO FOR A WALK, GRAB A BURGER AND #ROUNDUP FOR CHARITY AT DICK’S DRIVE-IN!

Seattle – On Sunday, October 9th BOTH Gravity Payments and Dick’s Drive-In will match all RoundUp for Charity donations made by Dick’scustomers, up to $5,000. That means together we could raise $15,000 for our partner charities in ONE DAY! Just go to your nearest Dick’s Drive-In and say “RoundUp for Charity” when you order.

On the same day, join us for the 6th Annual Dick’s Drive-In Walk-A-Thon! Walk alongside local leaders and celebrities as they lead individual legs between all 6 Dick’s Drive-In locations and raise money for our Charity Partners:

Executive Producer of Digital Media for Kiro7 News (and former Dick’s crewmember), Casey McNerthney will kick off the walk, leading us from Edmonds to Lake City.
Executive Director of Mary’s Place, Marty Hartman will take us from Lake City to Holman Road.
Don’t miss your chance to hang out with “the Hipster” from the recent Dick’s Drive-In commercial, Saul Spady between Holman Rd and 45th.
The Gravity Payments team will lead the group from 45th to Broadway.
Our favorite new edition to the Hawks team, C.J. Procise will anchor our fantastic relay, walking from Broadway to Queen Anne.

For more information on the Walk-A-Thon please go to https://www.facebook.com/events/111667855962067/. To register for the Walk-A-Thon go to ddir.com/store. Thanks to our event sponsor, Avier Wealth Advisors, your entire $20 registration fee goes directly to Dick’s Drive-Ins’ Change for Charity partners. All participants get a t-shirt and the opportunity to walk with local celebrities and community leaders.

Whether you walk one leg, form a relay team with friends or just grab a burger and RoundUP for Charity, you’ll be helping the homeless in our community and having a great time too!

Visit the website at www.dicksdrivein.com for amazing Dick’s Drive-In memories!
Join the conversation and fun on Facebook and Twitter
www.Facebook.com/DicksDriveIn
www.Twitter.com/DicksDriveIns

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Cashless in Seattle? Dick’s to accept credit cards by September 2016

Seattle & Edmonds – After 62 years of accepting only cash, Dick’s Drive-In will also be accepting credit and debit cards at all locations by September 2016.

“The only reason people still carry cash in this city is to eat at Dick’s Drive-In,” says Jim Spady, president of Dick’s Drive-Ins. “Many of our customers have asked us to please start accepting credit and debit cards and one of the last major decisions my Dad made was to start us on this path.”

“Moving from cash only to accepting credit and debit cards has been a long process with many challenges. It began over two years ago. We had to replace all of our registers and update all of our systems. “

One of the biggest challenges was how to continue Dick’s Change for Charity program. Dick’s customers have generously donated $1.4 million to their homeless charity partners over the last 18 years. Charities including Mary’s Place, FareStart, Operation Nightwatch and others serving the homeless (see ddir.com/giving for the full list) have come to depend on the regular generosity of Dick’s customers. Eventhough for many customers the physical “change” will be gone, customers can continue to support Change for Charity by Rounding Up for Charity!

Over the next month Dick’s will be testing new equipment at several locations and plans to be accepting credit and debit cards as well as Apple Pay at all six locations by September 2016. See ddir.com/payments for a list of all cards accepted and stay tuned on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates.

Visit the website at www.dicksdrivein.com for amazing Dick’s Drive-In memories!
Join the conversation and fun on Facebook and Twitter
www.Facebook.com/DicksDriveIn
www.Twitter.com/DicksDriveIns

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Seattle Companies Lead The Charge To Ensure NO CHILD SLEEPS OUTSIDE This Winter

Dick’s Drive-In, evo, Vulcan Inc., The Space Needle/Seattle Hospitality Group, Evolution
Projects, and the Harrelson family team together with the Seahawks Women’s
Association to launch a unique online crowdfunding campaign to benefit Mary’s PlaceSEATTLE – Nov. 12, 2014 – The weather has turned cold, wet and dark and 550 families, mostly single mothers and children, have no safe place to sleep this winter. The Seahawks Women’s Association and Dick’s have been long-time supporters of Mary’s Place, an organization providing day and night shelter for homeless women, children, and families, but both organizations wanted to do more. This year they are teaming up with Seattle’s leading companies including, evo, The Harrelson family, The Space Needle/Seattle Hospitality Group, Vulcan Inc. and Evolution Projects to launch an online crowdfunding campaign with over $40,000 in initial donations.

The campaign kicks off today, November 12th and runs to December 23rd. Everyone can help ensure that No Child Sleeps Outside this winter just by going to www.crowdrise.com/nochildsleepsoutsideseattle from any mobile device or computer.

The campaign goal of $250,000 will allow Mary’s Place to quickly open a crisis-response winter night shelter to bring inside more Seattle families without a safe, dry warm place to sleep. Donations of any size are welcome.

“We cannot imagine our children or grandchildren being forced to sleep outside and we want to do everything we can to make sure all Seattle families have a warm place to sleep this winter,” said Jim Spady, Vice President of Dick’s Drive-In. “Together, we can move homeless Seattle families out of encampments, doorways, and cars and into safe, emergency shelter.”

“Our employees are committed to giving back to the community and we love the idea of using a unique tool like crowdfunding to tackle a problem like homelessness,” said Pearl Leung, Sr. Community Relations Manager at Vulcan. “This campaign is both innovative and inclusive because anyone can donate – you don’t have to attend an event and you can forward it to friends, family and colleagues.”

“We are a young company with young employees looking for a way to give back to our community in new ways,” said Bryce Phillips, Founder of evo. “An online campaign like this that addresses the important issue of homelessness in our own backyard is a great fit for evo and we’re excited to be able to make a difference.”

“We are women helping women, families helping families,” said Kelli Schnieder, of the Seahawks Women’s Association. “Seattle is a city of incredible passion and when we work together, we can do amazing things, like make sure every child and family has safe shelter.”

“The Space Needle and the Seattle Hospitality Group are pleased to partner with this diverse group of local Seattle businesses who have come together to create a significant impact on family homelessness,” said H.S. Wright III, founder of the SHG. “We’ve been supporters of Mary’s Place for many years and look forward to helping them bring families inside this winter.”

“My family has called Seattle home since 1979 and we have seen our city grow, and prosper during that time, but we’ve also seen an increase in the numbers of those who are homeless” said business leader Stan Harrelson. “This is the right time for us to come together to help those who are outside during this cold winter season, and we are honored to play a role in making that happen in our community.”

About Mary’s Place:

Mary’s Place empowers homeless women, children, and families to reclaim their lives by providing day and night shelter, nourishment, resources, healing and hope in a safe community. The organization serves over 160 women and children every day who come to their door for basic needs and safety.

Media Contact:

Katy Sutta, Communications Director, Mary’s Place
Email: katy@marysplaceseattle.org
Phone: 206-621-8474

Visit the website at www.dicksdrivein.com for amazing Dick’s Drive-In memories!
Join the conversation and fun on Facebook and Twitter
www.Facebook.com/DicksDriveIn
www.Twitter.com/DicksDriveIns

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Join the Dick’s Charity Walk-A-Thon To Help the Homeless

Dick’s Drive-In Restaurant is proud to announce the 4th Annual Dick’s Drive-In Walk-A-Thon this Sunday, September 7th!

Join us for 1 Day, 6 Dick’s Drive-In locations & 22 Miles as we walk and raise money to support our Change for Charity partners helping the homeless in our community.

If you don’t want to walk, you can still help by making a Change for Charity donation at any Dick’s Drive-In Restaurant. In honor of all our Walk-A-Thon attendees Dick’s pledges to match up to $2,000 of all donations given to our Change for Charity boxes on Sunday, September 7th!

Interested walkers are encouraged to gather at the Edmonds Dick’s Drive-In location at 10:30AM as we embark on a trek across Seattle to support our Change for Charity partners: Mary’s Place, First Place School, FareStart, ROOTS Young Adult Shelter, The Compass Center, Operation Nightwatch, St. Martin de Porres Shelter and Cocoon House.

Those walkers who make a $20+ donation at Edmonds will receive a punch card to take to each store and an orange t-shirt to wear on the trek. If you want to join us along the way follow updates on Twitter & Facebook to find the walk! Here’s the estimated schedule:

Edmonds – Depart at 10:35 AM
Lake City – 1:15 PM
Holman Rd – 3 PM
Wallingford – 4:25 PM
Broadway – 6:15 PM
Queen Anne – 7:15 PM

The Dick’s Drive-In Walk-A-Thon was originally started as the ultimate urban hike by Ballard High School graduates Lars Phillips & JP Osseward 3 years ago. We’re proud to officially team with and support this event alongside our awesome fans!

Check out our Facebook Page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/366226790191983/

Visit the website at www.dicksdrivein.com for amazing Dick’s Drive-In memories!
Join the conversation and fun on Facebook and Twitter
www.Facebook.com/DicksDriveIn
www.Twitter.com/DicksDriveIns

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Calling all 2014 grads! Grab your FREE cheeseburgers now thru June 21 Dick’s Drive-In grad giveaway celebrates academic achievement and over $1.3 million in employee college scholarships

Seattle – It’s that time of year when senioritis and “all-nighters” give way to graduation celebrations and free cheeseburgers! Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants announced today their 19th annual grad giveaway with a free cheeseburger or regular hamburger, now through June 21, for any high school or college graduates who show up at any Dick’s Drive-In in their cap and gown.

“Graduation season is one of our favorite times of the year,” said Jim Spady, Dick’s Drive-In vice president, “It’s an important milestone and we love seeing all the grads in their colorful caps and gowns. It’s our way of saying ‘congratulations for a job well done.'”

Spady added that Dick’s Drive-Ins has made education a cornerstone of their community investments. “We offer our employees up to $22,000 in college scholarship funds over four years, to help them earn associate, bachelor and even graduate degrees. It’s the most important investment we make every year,” said Spady.

The company has given over $1.3 million in college scholarships to employees in the past 22 years. 80% of current Dick’s employees have either used or are using the scholarship program. To qualify, employees must work at least 20 hours a week while in college.

Dick’s is launching a Best Graduation Photo contest on Facebook. Take a grad picture in front of any Dick’s restaurant and share on Dick’sFacebook page www.Facebook.com/DicksDriveIn. The winner will receive $100 in Dick’s Dollars. All contest photos must be posted no later than June 21, 2013.

Contest Rules: Dick’s will decide the winner from the photos submitted by June 21. All typical contest rules apply, including no purchase necessary, Dick’s employees are not eligible to win, all photos entered become the property of Dick’s, etc.

Visit the website at www.dicksdrivein.com for amazing Dick’s Drive-In memories!
Join the conversation and fun on Facebook and Twitter
www.Facebook.com/DicksDriveIn
www.Twitter.com/DicksDriveIns

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The Seattle region’s classic burger joint turns 60 tomorrow! Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants celebrates anniversary with 2-for-1 cheeseburgers on Tuesday and 10-cent Coke prices on Friday (the 1954 price for Cokes!).

Seattle – It’s been an amazing year of sharing old memories and making news ones at all six restaurants, from old cars in Lake City to a block party on Broadway.

Dick’s turns the big 6-0 is this week. Here’s how we are going to celebrate.

TUESDAY, Jan. 28th ONLY, from 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM, 2-for-1 cheeseburgers and hamburgers! (excludes the Deluxe & Special burgers, limit 3 free burgers per customer)
FRIDAY, Jan. 31 ONLY, ALL DAY, 10-cent Cokes or soft drinks – any size!
WHERE: All 6 Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants

AND LIVE MUSIC ON FRIDAY, Jan. 31st 7:00-9:30 PM at the QUEEN ANNE Dick’s.
Friday, Jan 31 we end our year of celebration with a great event for the whole family at the Queen Anne Dick’s Drive-In Restaurant – the onlyDick’s Drive-In with indoor seating.

Dick’s will continue to sell the 60th Anniversary Memory Book throughout the year. It’s filled with 60 years of heartwarming memories. All profits go to Dick’s “Change for Charity” program helping homeless charities throughout our community.

Dick’s first restaurant on NE 45th Street opened for business on January 28, 1954. 60 years later, Dick’s 100% beef burgers and buns are still made fresh and never frozen; Dick’s fries are still hand-cut daily from fresh, never-frozen, potatoes; and Dick’s shakes are still hand-dipped and individually whipped the old fashioned way.

Visit the website at www.dicksdrivein.com for amazing Dick’s Drive-In memories!
Join the conversation and fun on Facebook and Twitter
www.Facebook.com/DicksDriveIn
www.Twitter.com/DicksDriveIns

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