The glowing signs at Dick's Hamburgers have been drawing hungry Seattle motorists for generations. The bright lettering and busy ordering windows make this one of those roadside stops that hardly needs an introduction. Grab a bag, find a spot outside, and enjoy a little hamburger stand atmosphere. 04-06
The first location opened in Wallingford on January 28, 1954, selling hamburgers for nineteen cents. Dick Spady and his partners built the business around quick service and affordable food, a formula that proved popular enough to spread throughout the Seattle area.
UPDATE: Dick Spady, the co-founder and namesake of the Dick's chain died in 2016 at the age of 92. Spady was known for offering the highest pay in the industry as well as 100% health coverage to employee. For more information, see the Seattle Times. 04-17
UPDATE: Spady died in 2016 at age 92, but the family business continues under the leadership of his granddaughter, Jasmine Donovan. The familiar signs, burgers, fries, and shakes remain part of Seattle’s roadside tradition. 07-26
Steakburger (Gone)
Hazel Dell, WA Photo courtesy Jeff Raber
The giant red boomerang above Steakburger made this Hazel Dell hamburger stop hard to overlook. Standing along Highway 99 beside the Golf-O-Rama miniature golf course, it promised a little more entertainment than the usual roadside meal. Burgers and putting made a pretty good combination. 01-04
Bob and Merilyn Condon took over in 1962 and operated the business for more than fifty years. The eighteen hole golf course helped turn a quick food stop into a family outing, while the distinctive sign became a familiar landmark along the old highway.
UPDATE: Steakburger and Golf-O-Rama closed in 2014, and the property was redeveloped. The boomerang sign disappeared, but three letters from the building sign were saved to spell “EAT” inside the replacement Panera. At least a small piece of Steakburger stayed for another meal. 07-26
BurgerVille USA (Rem.)
Vancouver, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
A name like BurgerVille USA and a marquee like this make a pretty convincing argument for stopping to eat. The bold lettering catches your attention before you’ve even looked toward the restaurant. For a hungry traveler passing through Vancouver, sometimes the roadside sign does most of the deciding. 12-06
George Propstra opened the first Burgerville on March 10, 1961, in Vancouver’s Heights neighborhood. Customers ordered at an outside window, and everything was served to go. A hamburger cost nineteen cents, while the larger Colossal Burger went for thirty nine cents. Apparently, the appetite for an oversized burger was already well established.
The family’s restaurant roots went back even further. George’s father, Jacob Propstra, opened the Holland Creamery in 1922, beginning the business that eventually led to Burgerville. The hamburger stands developed their own roadside identity, with prominent signs that made them easy to recognize without needing to read the menu.
BurgerVille USA (Rem.)
Vancouver, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
UPDATE: Burgerville continues serving the Northwest, although its branding has changed from the classic “Burgerville USA” look shown here. Seasonal specialties and regional ingredients have become part of its identity alongside burgers, fries, and shakes. The older signs recall the years when a big marquee and the promise of a quick hamburger were enough to bring another car into the lot. 07-26
Dick's Hamburgers
Spokane, WA Photo courtesy Josh Hudgens / 2007
A panda, a neon rooster, and a row of colorful letter panels make DickDick's Hamburgers in Spokane quite a roadside find. The sign has enough going on to catch your attention before you even notice the ordering windows. Apparently, advertising hamburgers didn’t require limiting yourself to one mascot. 07-07
The business traces its roots to Abe Miller’s first hamburger stand in 1954, while the familiar Third Avenue and Division Street restaurant dates to the mid 1960s. The panda recalls its earlier Panda name. Despite the name, this Dick’s is independent of the Seattle chain.
UPDATE: Dick’s remains a Spokane favorite, serving burgers, fries, shakes, and fried chicken beneath its distinctive sign. The colorful panels and unusual animal pairing still give hungry motorists a good reason to pull in. 07-26
Steakburger (Gone)
