Seattle – On Thursday June 6th, 2019, Pam Rall will celebrate 40 years working for Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants. She is the longest serving employee in company history. Originally hired to work at the Queen Anne location near the Space Needle, she has worked at many of the Seattle restaurants and has been the Day Manager at the Queen Anne location since 1999.
On Pam’s first day in 1979, the Dick’s on Queen Anne Ave was only four years old. The Deluxe and Special burgers were new menu items and the Sonics still played at Key Arena.“Onmy first day, the manager asked me to‘openone of the windows,’” she recounts.“Isaid‘excuseme sir, but I didn’t think the windows in the dining room actually open.’ Then I learned he meant to open the cash register and serve customers.” Queen Anne was the first Dick’s Drive-In restaurant that had indoor seating and not the traditional drive-in look with windows to serve customers.
Hired by one of the three original partners, Warren Ghormley, she distinctly remembers her interview with him at the main office.“It was at the end of the day and he kept checking things from the manual to talk to me about,” she shared.“Atone point I said‘Sir,are we going to be done soon, because the Sonics are playing tonight and I’d like to get home to see the game.’ He said“The Game!” and promptly ended the interview, leaving it to his assistant to close the office for the day.” That was the night the Sonics won the NBA Championship.
40 years later she is serving Deluxes, Fries and Shakes to customers in the shadow of Key Arena, now under renovationto play host to the NHL team coming to Seattle in 2022. Much has changed in the city she’s called home, but her commitment to Dick’s high standards of customer service and food quality has not waivered. She has mentored hundreds of young people who have started their careers at Dick’s in her position as a Day Manager. And she has served countless delicious memories to thousands of customers. Pam also raised two daughters,“Anda husband,” as she likes to say. They also live in Seattle.
“I just love working for this company,” said Pam.“Customers want good food and quick service and low prices as much as they did when I started. That hasn’t changed. And they take good care of their people.”
“It is amazing to think that Pam started serving great food and making memories with customers before I was born,” said Jasmine Donovan, President of Dick’s Drive-In and granddaughter of one of the three original founders, Dick Spady.“Weare honored that she continues to commit her time and energy to ensuring our customers get instant service and great food every day. It‘s just one of many examples that the value we provide to customers and employees is not‘old-fashioned,’it’s timeless.”
Queen Anne was the last Dick’s Drive-In location built by the original three partners. In the early 1990’s Dick Spady and his family bought out the other two original partners. In 2011, with a lot of customer participation in site selection, they opened the first new location in 37 years in Edmonds. In December, 2018 Dick’s opened another new location in Kent.
Pam Rall Original Employee Photo June 6th 1979.
Photo Credit: Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants
Any media interested in interviewing Pam Rall may do so on Thursday, June 6th from 11AM to 11:30AM at the Queen Anne Dick’s Drive-Ins 500 Queen Anne Ave N Seattle WA 98109. Please e-mail [email protected] or call(206)877-2101 with questions.