Dick’s is more than burgers and shakes
Published 7:09 pm Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Dick’s Drive-In has been a local institution since 1954, and its latest outlet – in Edmonds, the first outside Seattle – saw record-breaking sales when it opened Oct. 20 to much fanfare.
Founded by Dick Spady, the family-owned business is now also led by son Jim Spady, who serves as vice president and legal counsel. Jim Spady says the company’s success hinges on how it treats its employees.
Q: How, or why, did you decide to open your business?
A: My dad, Dick Spady, had served in World War II in the Navy and attended college thanks to the G.I. Bill from 1946-1950. Dad also participated in Air Force ROTC during college and although he was in the Air Force Reserves, his unit was called up for the Korean War when he graduated. The Air Force assigned him to an air base in Japan where he was put in charge of feeding all of the troops at the base. It was there that he learned many of the basic principles of the fast-food business: feeding a lot of people quickly, with quality food, in a clean and sanitary environment. When Dad returned to the USA, he wanted to start his own business but he didn’t have much money. Although most new restaurants are not successful, it doesn’t take much money to start a new restaurant. Dad wrote a proposal to his World War II buddy, Warren Ghormley, and the two decided to start a new restaurant with the help of B.O.A. (“Tom”) Thomas, who was a professor of dentistry at the UW. The three formed a partnership and began building the company’s first restaurant in 1953. The original Dick’s Drive-In Restaurant opened on Jan. 28, 1954. I was born four years later, and first worked at the family business in the 1970s.
Q: What convinced you that this was the job for you?
A: I have enjoyed Dick’s burgers, fries and shakes since I was a young child, and enjoyed working at Dick’s as a young man. Later, after I graduated from UW Law School I worked as an attorney in Seattle and Bellevue for several years until 1991, when my Dad’s two co-founders (Ghormley and Thomas) sold their interest in the business in 1991. Although I enjoyed the practice of law, managing the restaurant was a lot more fun and I also really enjoyed working at the family business with my parents, siblings and all of our great employees.
Q: What are the crucial elements for success for your business?
A: Keep it simple. Consistently serve tasty food, made from quality ingredients, quickly, in a clean and sanitary environment, with low prices, while treating your employees well and encouraging them to continue their education to achieve their full potential.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge and how did you meet it?
A: Consistency is the biggest challenge. Making sure that every customer gets the great-tasting burgers, fries and shakes they expect, every time, every day, 24/7, 365, year after year is our goal. The best way to achieve this goal is to hire the best people available to serve our customers. We do that by treating our employees well, providing them with the highest wages and best benefits in our industry, including 100 percent employer-paid health insurance, $22,000 in college tuition assistance, a 401(k) plan with a 50 percent employer match, and paid time off for community service.
Q: What motivates you?
A: What motivates me are opportunities to make the world a little better by helping people achieve their highest potential.
Q: What personal abilities do you think are needed to excel in this business?
A: A willingness to work hard. A willingness to learn. Personal integrity. Compassion for other people and for helping others to achieve their highest potential. The ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Q: When you’re not working, how do you enjoy spending your time?
A: Snow skiing. Hiking. Reading. Visiting with friends and relatives. Traveling to places with beautiful scenery (especially snow-covered mountains) or interesting history, or both.
Dick’s Drive-In
Where: Five locations in Seattle and in Edmonds at 21910 Highway 99
Phone: 425-775-4243
Online: www.ddir.com
