dicksdrivein.jpg
Seattle's Dick's Drive-Ins continue going strong 59 years later. (Image courtesy Dick's Drive-In Facebook)

Dick's still going strong at 59

BY Tim Haeck  on January 28, 2013 @ 3:49 pm (Updated: 6:20 pm - 1/28/13 )

Dick Spady was just a kid of 29 when he started Dick's Drive-In in 1954. Monday marked the Seattle-based burger joint's 59th birthday and his son, Jim Spady, says his dad is still very involved in his namesake at age 89.

"He's still the president of the company, still going strong, still very interested in the drive-in and making sure that we continue to cook well and serve our customers quickly, charge fair prices and treat our employees well," said Spady.

With six locations now, Spady calls his restaurant chain a small Seattle icon.

"Every town of any size has a favorite burger joint and we're lucky that we're Seattle's favorite burger joint and we were here before everyone else and we've been serving great food for 59 years," said Spady.

Spady says Dick's has survived the explosion of fast food joints by doing what it does well, using fresh, not frozen products and hand dipping its milkshakes.

The latest outlet in Edmonds is cooking, so might Dick's finally open an Eastside location?

"We did promise that if it was successful that we would eventually open restaurants both in the Eastside and in the south end and we will do that. But we are a small business and we can only afford to grow so fast," Spady cautioned.

Tuesday, the Dick's birthday celebration continues with two-for-one burgers from 2 until 6:30 p.m. And Spady said brainstorming is already underway for next year's 60th birthday celebration.

Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • longwayhome wrote...
    CH
    January 28, 2013 6:11 pm
    Don't go there, sometimes you are not relevant or funny.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Thanks
    January 28, 2013 11:12 pm
    For letting us know who wears "the pants" in your guys relationship.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Sometimes?
    January 29, 2013 10:32 am
    Like you, it's NEVER.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Dick Spady
    January 28, 2013 8:04 pm
    I met Mr. Spady a long time ago when he came to my class to talk (his son was in the class). Seemed a very sharp guy at the time.

    As for best burgers, I've heard quite a few good things about 5 Guys Burgers.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • George Costanza wrote...
    Dick's Is A No No To Me ... Boycotting!!
    January 29, 2013 2:07 am
    I refuse to go to another Dick's and will continue to boycott them until they open a place in the southend. What's wrong with opening one say in the Southcenter area? What do they have against the southend? Not going to waste me gas and time to drive to one anymore. I THINK EVERYONE WHO LIVES SOUTH OF SEATTLE SHOULD BOYCOTT THEM UNTIL THEY OPEN A LOCATION AT SOUTHCENTER !!!!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Southcenter? I axe you; whey would they build there.
    January 29, 2013 10:35 am
    They don't want to get; robbed, drive-by(ed), graffiti/vandalism/tagged, become a gang banger hang-out...the list goes on. Word...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    the only thing keeping dick's alive is
    January 29, 2013 5:24 am
    it's location amongst the hipster freaks and the name "dick's"!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }