Dick’s Drive-In has been running its Change4Charity program at its five Seattle-area locations since 1998, collecting extra change from customers for a variety of local and international causes. Last week the local restaurant chain announced that the program passed the half-million dollar mark, raising over $500,000 collectively between all locations to support Seattle area homeless shelters and disaster relief efforts.
“Those little change boxes have added up to big donations,” Dick’s Drive-In vice president Jim Spady said in a statement. “We want to thank each and every customer who has taken the time to drop their extra burger change into the Change4Charity boxes.”
In the 13 years since the Change4Charity program began, donations have gone toward a number charities, including Compass Housing, Family Support Network, Fare Start, First Place, Mary’s Place, ROOTS, Saint Martin de Porres Shelter, and Seattle Night Watch.
Through the program special donations have also been made to a number of disaster relief efforts. Top months for giving through Change4Charity have included Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in September 2005, relief efforts following the Haitian earthquake in January and February 2010, and aid for those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March of this year–the single largest month in donations, in which over $21,000 was raised and directed to Japan through the Seattle Red Cross and World Vision in Federal Way.
Love those good ol’ fashioned Dick’s burgers? If you’re a recent graduate, you’re in luck! Dick’s Drive-In has got a congratulatory gift in store for members of the 2011 graduating class – swing by any Dick’s, including our very own Lower Queen Anne location, in your cap and gown now through Tuesday, June 21 and get a free cheeseburger. Hurray!
Much like last year, Dick’s Drive-In is celebrating its birthday—its 57th—by offering all Coca-Cola drinks for 10 cents each, at each of its five Seattle-area locations all day on Friday, January 28.
For the sentimental type, the Dick’s chain also put out this memorial slide-show of the restaurant’s history over these last 57 years here in Seattle.
The Lower Queen Anne Dick’s is located at 500 Queen Anne Ave. N. All locations are open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
If you’re in the military or have served in the military, Dick’s would like to give you a free burger on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
From the Dick’s press release:
Beginning at 10:30 a.m. until closing on Veterans Day, all veterans and active duty military members who can show any form of military identification or wear their military uniform will receive a free hamburger or cheeseburger at all five Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants in Wallingford, Broadway, Holman Road, Lake City, and Queen Anne.Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. announced today free hamburgers and cheeseburgers in honor of Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11. Free burgers will be served throughout the day at all five Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants to any veteran or active military member as a way to honor past and present military service.
Dick Spady, co-founder and president of Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants, is also a veteran of two wars and Dick’s Drive-Ins supports the local USO at Sea-Tac Airport and Joint Base Lewis McChord. “I served in the Navy in World War II, the Air Force during the Korean War, and my wife was in the Navy when we met. We both share a deep respect and admiration for our fellow veterans and active military members. They deserve our recognition and gratitude,” Spady says.
Dick’s Drive In is a Seattle staple, yet the five-location chain hasn’t opened a new restaurant since the Lower Queen Anne location in 1974. But all of that is about to change.
For the firs time in 36 years, Dick’s is adding a new location to its ranks—it just hasn’t decided where yet. The three areas under consideration are North Seattle (south Snohomish County/Shoreline), South Seattle (West Seattle through Renton and Tukwila) or the Eastside.
The hamburger joint is putting the question to the people, with a poll in its website. Currently the race is neck-to-neck, with North Seattle at 33 percent of votes, South Seattle at 32 percent, and the Eastside leading with 34 percent.
A man who claimed that he was injured by police outside the Lower Queen Anne Dick’s Drive In in 2007 has filed both state and federal lawsuits this week, alleging “a pattern of excessive force and police misconduct” in the Seattle Police Department, according to our news partner, The Seattle Times. From the Times:
The lawsuits say Dewoyne Lowe suffered a concussion and severe face cuts from police who knocked him to the ground outside the Queen Anne Dick’s Drive-In after Lowe and a companion argued with a security guard about whether the restaurant was open.
Lowe’s attorney, John Kannin, said one of the officers accused of punching his client is Officer Camilo DePina. Kannin says DePina is among the officers seen standing by in a videotape of a recent racially charged incident in which a Latino man was beaten by another police officer. That incident is under investigation by the FBI.
According to the Times, Lowe’s lawsuits allege two incidents involving DePina. In the first Lowe claims DePina knocked him down face first in the Dick’s parking lot. In the second he states that DePina slammed his head into a counter at a Seattle police station later. The lawsuits also names a second officer, Christopher Christman, who Lowe claims assisted in the attacks against him. Kannin stated that Lowe’s injuries were so severe that he required treatment at Harborview Medical Center. One noted injury was a cut through his eyebrow that required 12 stitches. From the Times:
Renee Witt, Seattle police spokeswoman, said the department would not comment on an active investigation or pending lawsuit.
Dick’s Drive-In is celebrating its 56th anniversary today, and as part of the festivities, they will be selling Cokes for the same price as when they first opening in 1954 – 10 cents a pop!
The five locations throughout the city, including the Dick’s in Queen Anne, at 500 Queen Anne Ave. N., are open from 10:30 a.m. every morning to 2 a.m. the next day – plenty of time to get a 10-cent Coke or two! The other locations are in Wallingford, at 111 NE 45th St, Capitol Hill, at 115 Broadway Ave. E, Holman Road, at 9208 Holman Road NW, and Lake City, at 12325 30th Ave North.
This is not the first time Dick’s has made their already inexpensive menu even more affordable for a day. On Veteran’s Day Dick’s gave away free cheeseburgers to vets. To read the full story on the Dick’s anniversary, check out Casey McNerthney’s story in the PI.
On the way to or from getting a free car wash at Brown Bear in honor of Veterans Day today, veterans can also swing by EMP|SFM and Dick’s Drive-In for a few more honorary treats. EMP|SFM just tweeted that they’re offering free admission to all veterans and their families for the holiday today. And Monica Guzman at the PI reports that Dick’s is giving free cheeseburgers to veterans and active duty military members in honor of their service until closing tonight at all five of their Seattle locations. Co-founder Dick Spady is himself a World War II and Korean War vet. Details here. And if you’re venturing outside Queen Anne today, check out this list of 20 other discounts and freebies for Seattle veterans.
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Dick’s Drive-In has been running its Change4Charity program at its five Seattle-area locations since 1998, collecting extra change from customers for a variety of local and international causes. Last week the local restaurant chain announced that the program passed the half-million dollar mark, raising over $500,000 collectively between all locations to support Seattle area homeless shelters and disaster relief efforts.