Dick’s Drive-In Expands to 9th Location in Seattle

Dick’s Drive-In, a well-known Seattle burger spot, is set to open its ninth location in Federal Way at The Commons shopping center, according to an announcement from company President Jasmine Donovan. The anticipated opening is scheduled for “sometime in 2023,” pending the permitting and construction processes post-COVID-19.

The new Dick’s Drive-In in Federal Way will closely resemble the existing Kent location, featuring a standalone building in the parking lot with customers walking up to service windows, as outlined in the statement.

For those unfamiliar with the Seattle area, Dick’s Drive-In holds a special place as a nostalgic hometown favorite.

The company, known for its classic American menu of burgers, fries, and shakes, has experienced rapid expansion in recent years, including a return to the Eastside with its eighth location. Jasmine Donovan, the current company president, is the granddaughter of the late founder Dick Spady, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 92.

Dick’s Drive-In has maintained a commitment to its employees, offering paid health insurance for all staff and providing scholarships to those working at least 20 hours a week.

The company’s menu has adhered to simplicity, focusing on American classics and avoiding the trend of adding various items seen in other fast-food establishments. Notably, the menu remained unchanged for two decades until 1971 when two new burgers, the Dick’s Special and the Dick’s Deluxe, were introduced. The menu has seen minimal changes since, with a recent upgrade at the Broadway location on Capitol Hill in Seattle, which is expected to reopen in early summer after its first renovation since construction in 1954.