Dick's Drive-In Continues Creating Timeless Value for Customers

Jasmine Donovan, company president and granddaughter of one of the three original Dick's Drive-In partners, reflects on how some things never change for this storied family business.

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Aerial view of a Dick's Drive-In restaurant with a crowd of diners

'We serve delicious memories now as often as we serve burgers, fries, and shakes.'

What problem/market need were you addressing when the business started?

Grandpa and his partners brought “fast food” to Seattle. They wanted to serve quality food fast and inexpensively. We continue to find that this value we create for customers is timeless.A grandfather with his granchild

What has been the biggest challenge and the biggest reward throughout your journey?

Maintaining a high-quality product at a low price while investing in our employees with the best wages and benefits in the industry and community. We find the “genius of AND” every day. Customers have made so many memories with our food that we help them connect to every time they visit. We serve “delicious memories’ now as often as we serve burgers, fries and shakes.

What’s next for the business?

We’re continuing to develop the skill of growing while maintaining our high standards of food quality, cleanliness, and customer service.

If you were to recommend one thing new-comers should taste, what would it be?

A deluxe [burger], fry, and chocolate shake (of course).

Two-sentence advice for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

Be curious and learn something from every situation. I had a very unusual path to my role today, as did my grandfather when he started the business, and those experiences set us up for success in ways we couldn’t imagine.

Jasmine Donovan sits on the board of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center’s Family Business Exchange (FBX), an institute designed specifically for Pacific Northwest family businesses. If you are a family business, attend the next FBX event and learn from/network with peers. Learn more about Dick's Drive-In at ddir.com.  

 

Dick's Drive-In Fast Facts

1954

Date of founding

Dicks Drive-In meal of burger, shake, and fries

Ownership details

Family owned by the children of Dick Spady, one of the three original partners after whom the restaurant was named

9

Locations

Restaurants in Seattle, Edmonds, Kent, Bellevue, and Federal Way

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