My ‘66 Falcon sports coupe might not have power brakes, a rear window defroster, automatic door locks, cruise control or any other “luxury” add-ons.
But her instincts are foolproof.
Case in point: whenever she approaches a Dick’s Drive-In, I swear the blinker automatically flips on and the steering wheel starts to turn, as if I was along for the ride.
Who says you can’t teach an old car new tricks?
All right, so maybe I dreamt up the whole auto-pilot sequence. But it’s no exaggeration that I find it darn near impossible to pass by a Dick’s, day or night, without pulling in for a quick bite. Those orange letters lure me in every time.
At least I’m not alone. While Mariners, Seahawks and SuperSonics supporters have been known to come and go, Dick’s has developed a faithful fan base that can’t seem to get its fill of the best burgers, fresh-cut fries and frosty milkshakes in town.
Corporations like Microsoft and Starbucks may have put Seattle on the international map and become household names in the process, but locals know that Dick’s will forever be the Emerald City’s true gem. The family-owned, one-of-a-kind, hamburger joints that we’re perfectly content to keep as our little secret.
This month marks the 50th anniversary of Seattle’s flagship fast food franchise. Co-founders Dick Spady, Warren Ghormley and Tom Thomas opened the original Dick’s Drive-In in Wallingford on Jan. 28, 1954.
The tasty food, instant service and low prices were an immediate hit, especially with nightowls and University of Washington co-eds. Four more Dick’s locations popped up in the coming years: Broadway (1955), Holman Road (1960), Lake City (1963) and a dine-in establishment on Queen Anne (1974).
Not a whole lot has changed at Dick’s in 50 years, which is no doubt the main reason the local landmark has prospered despite the uprising of national fast food chains. Spady and his partners — who he eventually bought out in 1991 — never intended to expand their enterprise outside of Seattle. And rather than constantly tinkering with the menu, they stuck to their philosophy of sticking to the classics.
The Dick’s Special and quarter-pound Dick’s Deluxe were added in 1971 and soon after orange soda was dropped in favor of diet cola. But that’s about it as far as adjustments go. You’ll have to venture elsewhere for chicken or fish offerings, onion rings, salads and the like.
At Dick’s, there’s none of the above. There’s no combo meals, no prizes or playtoy out back for the kiddies, no super-sizing and definitely no “special orders,” though I’ve overheard more than a few Dick’s neophytes asking their servers to “hold the mustard” on their cheeseburgers. As if.
To commemorate its first 50 years, Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., published a memory book chock-full of Dick’s nostalgia. Pick one up at any of the five Dick’s locations for $10, or order a copy from the company’s Web site, www.ddir.com. (While you’re browsing, check out the always-fashionable Dick’s T-shirts, too).
In the memory book, longtime customers recount pages upon pages of anecdotes about late-night Dick’s cravings, loading up on 19-cent burgers and 11-cent fries and ritualistic Dick’s runs with the kids, or grandkids in some cases.
UW grads declare Dick’s the one and only meeting place for study breaks and post-game celebrations. The old-fashioned drive-ins have been the backdrop for some unforgettable first dates and even a marriage proposal.
But everybody knows it’s the grub that makes Dick’s great. A local supplier delivers the beef every day, the fries are sliced from real potatoes and cooked in 100 percent vegetable oil and those shakes are so smooth and creamy because they’re hand-dipped and individually whipped.
The Dick’s tagline sums it up best: “Where taste has been the difference since 1954.”
Here’s to another 50 years of making sure families, frat guys, sorority sisters and other starving Seattleites never go without their Dick’s fix.
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