Dick’s Drive In Restaurant - Seattle’s Iconic Burger Joint

In 1953 Dick Spady started a fast-food restaurant in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle, Washington called Dick’s Drive In Restaurant. While attending the UW, my father took my mother on a date to Ricardo’s Club 19 (aka Dick’s Drive In). In 1971, I was born less than a mile away. Since then, I’ve ordered many a Dick’s cheeseburger, chocolate shake and French fry. As a young boy, I remember spilling a strawberry shake in the back seat of my grandparents Plymouth Satellite. I spent an evening with fellow Garfield High School students in the crowded parking lot to celebrate our basketball team’s State Championship victory. While I’ve lived in Portland for many years now, I always make a point of stopping by one of the 5 locations for my Dick’s fix. Dick Spady (and his Drive In restaurants) are still going strong today, after 53 years. Dick’s even received a major nod by earning a listing on Wikipedia and recognition on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report when Stephen Colbert mentioned Dick’s in an interview with Fife Congressman Smith. More than just a fast food burger joint, Dick’s Drive In is known for using fresh ingredients and taking care of it’s employees. So the big question remains…when will Dick Spady agree to bring Dick’s Drive In Restaurant to Portland? As a concerned citizen, I contacted Dick’s son Jim Spady, a VP at the family-owned business and he informed me that unfortunately it is not in the plans for the immediate future (nor are any new restaurants in the Seattle area, which hasn’t seen a new location built since 1971). We can all hope Dick comes to his senses and makes Portland a priority stop for Dick’s Drive In.