After 62 years of accepting only cash, Dick’s Drive-In will also be accepting credit and debit cards at all locations by September 2016, the company announced Thursday.
“The only reason people still carry cash in this city is to eat at Dick’s Drive-In,” Jim Spady, president of Dick’s Drive-Ins and son of the restaurant’s namesake, said in a statement. “Many of our customers have asked us to please start accepting credit and debit cards and one of the last major decisions my Dad made was to start us on this path.”
After more than 60 years of cash-only...Dick's Drive-In restaurants will soon take cards! Will you go more often? -- Sorry about the bad reception -- check out our story on KIRO 7 News at noon!
Posted by Nick McGurk on Thursday, July 28, 2016
Dick’s staff said the process to accept cards began more than two years ago when they had to update systems and replace registers.
In past years, Dick’s was also known for staff who would add meal costs without aid of a cash register, though that practice also stopped years ago.
The company said one of the biggest challenges was how to continue Dick's Change for Charity program – an effort that led to $1.4 million in donations from customers over the past 18 years. Charities benefiting from the program include Mary's Place, FareStart and Operation Nightwatch.
Staff said customers will be given the option to round up for charity.
The Drive-Ins will be testing new equipment during the summer before rolling out the card payment option at their six locations: Wallingford, Capitol Hill, Holman Road, Lake City, Queen Anne and Edmonds.
Follow this link to learn more about Dick's Drive-In and namesake Dick Spady, who died earlier this year at age 92.
Cox Media Group
