MEMORIES: Just Plain Good Memories

Some of you shared memories of Dick's that couldn't be classified into a single theme. They're just plain good memories that deserve a category of their own. Like three friends from the class of '57 who celebrated a 53rd birthday at Dick's. Or the four kids who collected pop bottles on a hot summer day for money to buy ice cream cones. And the heartfelt tale of a woman recollecting her late-husband's first request after a serious heart attack.

Grand Prize Winner

All on a hot summer afternoon
Picture this, the summer of 1965, four screaming kids in mom's old Chevy. The sun was blistering and beating down on the peeling roof. We kids were hot and hungry, but alas, then mom was broke.

We all wanted cheeseburgers and ice cream cones so mom gave us the idea to scan the neighborhood collecting old pop bottle for the refund...Shezam!

So, we worked all day long in the sweltering heat and finally got enough money for our treat. There we were, cruising down the road with the windows wide open. The wind was blowing the melting ice cream from the front seat to the faces of my brother and sister in the back seat. We were all screaming with laughter-the cones were melting all over the car-we couldn't eat the cones fast enough!

And now, here it is 1993 and mom's doing great. And us kids? Well, we are all entrepreneurs! And those cheeseburgers? Well, I don't think a week goes by that one of us kids aren't at the window to order a Deluxe, fries, two tartar and of course, Diet Coke!

We still sit and howl about that afternoon!
Paula Hood Age: 37

Runners-up

Chez Richard comes to the rescue
It was the usual hectic evening at LeTastevin (French restaurant) at 501 Queen Anne Avenue North, across the street from Dick's (a.k.a. Chez Richard to the Tastevin crowd). We were working very hard to give special attention to a very important party of 6 demanding people. The evening started out well with complimentary champagne. But now the festive spirit was taking a turn for the worse. The host of the party insisted that he have french fries, with ketchup, with his filet mignon. In his vast experience, no self respecting French restaurant would not serve fries as part of its cuisine. The customer insisted, to the point of demanding, that he have his french fries. This was creating quite a scene in the quiet, intimate atmosphere of the restaurant. The solution was obvious as the customer is always right. The chef sent a waiter over to Dick's for two orders of french fries, with ketchup. They were served with the filet mignon to a very happy customer-"the best french fries I have ever had!" He was so pleased that he tipped a generous 25% to the wait person. Did he ever know the true origin of the french fries? We'll never know, but Dick's saved the evening!
Raine Gislason Age: 56

Still giggling at Dick's, after all these years
The three of us Kathleen Donahue, Marna Lehman, and JoAnne King, have been friends since grade school. We graduated from Holy Names Academy, Class of '57. We remember the start of Dick's Drive In and 19 cent burgers and 11 cent fries.

In April of 1992, Kathleen and I were trying to decide where to take Marna for her birthday dinner. It must be different than our previous celebrations and someplace special. Suddenly, Kathleen said "How about Dick's Drive In? But we won't tell here where we're taking her." Great Idea!!

So we told Marna we were taking her to a special place. Kathleen even sent her a corsage with a card that said "Wear this to dinner tonight."

It was an unusually warm spring evening so we began with a glass of wine and appetizers on the deck of Lake Union restaurant. Then we were on our way. As we crossed the Roosevelt Bridge and turned left on 45th, the mystery was getting to Marna. She said, "I just can't figure out where you are taking me." I replied, "You won't have to wait any longer because here we are. And there's our reservation!" And I turned into Dick's and into the parking space right in the middle in front, just as if it had really been reserved for us.

Marna burst into laughter and the three of us sat there for several minutes, tears running down our cheeks, holding our sides, laughing hysterically-like three teenage friends.

Finally we composed ourselves enough to go to the counter and order our hamburgers, fries and cokes (while commenting on inflation). The young man who took our order must have thought we were a little crazy.

We returned to the car with our orders and as we ate and reminisced, I realized we needed music. I reached over and turned on the radio just as Dean Martin began singing "Memories Are Made of This." How perfect! Marna looked at me with a shocked look and said, "How'd you do that?!!!"

Through the years our birthday celebrations have taken place in some fine restaurants. But our evening at Dick's Drive In turned out to be the best of all!
JoAnne King Age: 54

He just added Dick's to his paper route
In the late fifties, I was a Seattle Times carrier with a route on Capitol Hill. Back then the monthly charge for delivery was just $1.75. In the evenings, flush from making collections from my customers and with a youthful optimism that kept me from appreciating how little I would actually net after paying off my employer, I would frequently pedal my bicycle down the hill to Broadway to the recently opened Dick's. There, dazzled by the stainless steel counters, colorful small tiles and wide open view of employees preparing fresh food, I would purchase too many 19 cent hamburgers, 25 cent Strawberry milkshakes and then queue up at the special french fry window for an 11 cent bag. I would place the food in my newspaper delivery bag fresh and appealing with that ketchup aroma and ride my bicycle home to Montlake.

Yes, such was the lure of Dick's food for me that I would travel down to Broadway, then labor back up to the top of Capitol Hill, then down to Montlake to home before wolfing down the now slightly less fresh, maybe even slightly crushed Dick's meal.

Even though I probably delivered newspapers on Capitol Hill for no more than a year and a half, the memories of these trips to Dick's have lasted almost forty years.
Casey Merrell Age: 50

Hawaii might have sunshine and warmth, but nothing like Dick's
Nothing can compare to the Dick's memory I just recently experienced. I just returned from Hawaii. I spent 3 months there this summer and got to enjoy many wonderful things, including great food. However, as time rolled on, a funny thing happened. I really began to long for a good old fashioned Dick's Deluxe, fries and chocolate shake, which is what I always get when I go there. As the summer went on, this passion developed in me, almost to a fanaticism for a Dick's meal. I vowed when I came home on the plane, the first thing I would do is go straight from the airport to Dick's. My departing day came, and I didn't get a chance to have breakfast, and I wouldn't touch the airplane meal. When I got to the airport, I was ravenously hungry and needed a Deluxe more than a man dying of thirst needed water! My friend took me there and I finished 4 Deluxe, fries and a shake in 10 minutes flat, I swear! I can honestly say that I've never had a deluxe that tasted that good.
Garrick Hileman Age: 20

A secret reward for going to the dentist
I'm a Wallingford gal, born and raised, and one of the best memories of my childhood always took place at Dick's Drive-In.

My dentist's office was located in the U-District and like most kids I dreaded going to the dentist. My mom always sent me off with enough money to take the bus home after my appointment. As much as I hated the workover the dentist gave me, I relished the thought of what was in store for me afterwards.

I'd skip the bus, pocket the change and walk all the way home on 45th to Wallingford forever looking ahead for the big orange sign that read "19 cent burgers." It was my oasis in the desert.

Back then Dick's burgers were cheap, fries were 11 cents and I loved those hand-dipped shakes in the waxy paper cup, well, it was pure grubbin'. Though my little feet were aching from the long trek home, that bus trip not taken provided me with a much greater reward, a burger, fries and a chocolate shake at Dick's.

I never did tell my mom about all the times I never took the bus home and instead spent the money eating at Dick's, so I hope if she does find out she doesn't tweak my ears.

I'm all grown up now. I still eat at Dick's and every once in a while I remember those long walks home.

So, thanks, Dick's for being a part of this Wallingford gal's past. I wish you all the best as you embark on a new chapter in your life and many thanks for all the great memories.
Diane Reinsch

From Woodland Park to Woodinville, and all because of Dick's
Thank you for the many years of Seattle's best burgers. Growing up in slightly less than affluent style in North Seattle, the Wallingford Drive-In has always been close to the hearts of our family. It was always an affordable and anticipated "eat-out" dinner. My brother, now in Redding, California, used to bring his whole family from his previous home in Kent to the Wallingford Dick's regularly to make sure they knew what a drive-in is all about. It is still an important date when he is in the area. What impresses me about your burgers is that they taste great even without the condiments-never have I tasted a beefier burger!!!

Now my story:
I always attribute, rightly or wrongly, one of the biggest changes in our family's life to Dick's. We lived near Woodland Park till 1962, at which time we moved to the wilderness which is now Woodinville. How this came about is what involves your fine establishment.

It must have been 1960 Just previous to Seafair. Seafair (and Hydroplanes) buttons were sold everywhere, and if I remember right, each button came with a raffle number, or each outlet offered the raffle with the button. My dad got us all buttons, at Dick's in Wallingford, and entered the raffle. Low and behold, he won a 20 foot cruiser with 2 outboards, and a trailer! My dad, being more an aviator than a mariner, scooped up all the capital he could (including his 3 kids' meager savings accounts) sold the boat, and used the money to buy 5 acres in Woodinville, and build us a big house. So we moved to the country, but never left the best burgers behind. May your restaurants carry on forever!!
Jim Haffner Age: 40

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