Dicks Drive-In breaks ground on new Tulalip location
Published 11:30 am Tuesday, June 9, 2026
EVERETT — Around 100 people gathered to watch representatives from the Tulalip Tribes and Dick’s Drive-In break ground Monday on the newest location of the Seattle chain — and partake in free cheeseburgers.
On Wednesday, Dick’s Drive-In announced it would be serving its classic burger menu at a new location on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Five days later, standing on the gravel lot that would soon become the burger joint’s new home, members of the Tribes’ board of directors spoke about their excitement over the collaboration.
“We look forward to seeing this site transformed into a place where families gather, employees build careers and visitors experience the hospitality that makes Tulalip special,” said Deborah Parker, the vice chair of the Tulalip Tribes board of directors, in her speech Monday.
Located across from the Quil Ceda Creek Casino, the 33rd Avenue Northeast site will be the third Dick’s Drive-In restaurant in the county and the 11th overall. The Tulalip location will be the more than seven-decade-old burger franchise’s first on a reservation.
The groundbreaking began with a blessing from the Tulalip Lushootseed Department and a performance of a welcome song by Tulalip singers and drummers, including youth leadership from the Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary School.
An alignment of values between the family-owned chain and the Tulalip Tribes, such as family, education and job growth, is one of the reasons Hazen Shopbell, the chair of the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors, said he is excited for the partnership.
“It seemed like a perfect fit for us,” he said in his speech.
While there isn’t an official opening date yet, the Dick’s Drive-In is going “as fast as we can,” said Jasmine Donovan, the president and CEO of Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants.
“We don’t take lightly the responsibility of opening our 11th restaurant here,” Donovan said during her speech. “We know this will be a relationship that lasts for generations, and serving this community, creating jobs, becoming part of everyday memories for people here that’s our why. That’s why we do what we do.”
Following the groundbreaking, attendees received free cheeseburgers from the Dick’s Drive-In food truck. The line wrapped around a quarter of the building site.
One attendee, Dorothy “Topo” Jones, recalled how on her way back from the airport with her husband and grandson, her husband insisted on making a detour to Dick’s Drive-In despite getting in just after midnight.
Soon, her family won’t need to use the airport as an excuse for a burger run.
“You can’t go wrong,” Jones said about their simplified burger menu. “They don’t mess with the wheel.”
Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan
