Dick's Drive-in begins serving Seattle hamburgers on January 28, 1954.

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On January 28, 1954, Dick's Drive-in opens to begin serving hamburgers, french fries, and milkshakes on NE 45th Street in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. Dick's comes to represent the quintessential 1950s, a cross between fast food and the automobile, quite the place to hang out with your friends with Rock 'n Roll blaring from the car radio -- at least by 1955 when Bill Haley and His Comets hit the charts with "We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock," moving on to 1956 when Elvis comes on the scene with "Don't Be Cruel," "Hound Dog," "Love Me Tender," and "Heartbreak Hotel." Dick's Drive-in is started by Dick Spady and two partners.

In 1955, Broadway Dick's opened on Capitol Hill. Holman Road Dick's opened in 1960, the Lake City Dick's in 1963, and the Queen Anne Dick's in 1974.

In 2001, Dick's Drive-in continues to serve up hamburgers, French fries, and milkshakes. It has remained a local business.

Sources:
"Dick's Drive-in History," (http://www.ddir.com/Dicks_Drive_In_Restaurants/History.html); "#1 Songs of 1930-1990," Lyrics World Website (http://www.summer.com.br/~pfilho/html/top1/index.html).

By Priscilla Long, August 08, 2001

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This essay made possible by:
The SCHOONER Project:
The Hon. Jan Drago
Seattle City Council
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

Dick's in Wallingford, September 2001
HistoryLink.org Photo by Priscilla Long

Dick's, Wallingford, Seattle, September 2001
HistoryLink.org Photo by Priscilla Long