Dick’s Drive-In is expanding again, bringing its famous burgers, fries, and milkshakes even further north — and the announcement immediately sparked a spirited debate over where the beloved burger chain should go next.
The Seattle-based institution announced Wednesday that its newest restaurant will be built across from Quil Ceda Creek Casino on the Tulalip Reservation, west of Interstate 5 at Exit 199.
It will mark Snohomish County’s third Dick’s restaurant, following Edmonds and south Everett.
Construction is expected to begin Monday, June 8, with additional details about hiring and opening plans expected later.
The new location will serve customers from Tulalip, Marysville, and surrounding communities while continuing the company’s steady expansion across the Puget Sound region.
“It is such a pleasure to work with the Tulalip Tribe on this restaurant,” Dick’s Drive-In President and CEO Jasmine Donovan said in a statement. “It’s wonderful to partner with a community that shares our values and understands multigenerational stewardship.”
Tulalip Tribe Board Chairman Hazen Shopbell welcomed the addition.
“Dick’s Drive-In has been a beloved Pacific Northwest institution for more than 70 years, and we are honored to welcome them as a new business to Tulalip,” Shopbell said.
A Northwest Burger Icon
For many Washingtonians, Dick’s is more than just a burger restaurant.
Founded in Seattle in 1954, Dick’s has built a devoted following around its simple menu, fresh-never-frozen beef burgers, hand-cut fries made from Washington potatoes, and hand-dipped milkshakes.
The family-owned company is also known for paying employees well above industry norms and offering benefits that include employer-paid health insurance, scholarships, childcare assistance, regular raises, and opportunities for promotion.
Each new restaurant typically creates about 50 jobs.
The Tulalip location will continue that tradition while adding another stop for the countless travelers who already visit the nearby Seattle Premium Outlets and casino complex.
The Real Debate: Where Should Dick’s Go Next?
If the company’s goal was to generate excitement, mission accomplished. Within hours of the announcement, dozens of fans flooded Dick’s social media pages with one pressing question:
“What about us?”
The loudest campaign may have come from Whatcom County. “Bellingham…. Bellingham…. Bellingham. I know it will be received so well,” one commenter wrote.
Another added: “Y’all are slowly getting closer to Bellingham… please bring one to Bellingham!!!”
Others argued Skagit County should be next.
“This is definitely a good location because so many people visit the outlet mall there,” one person wrote. “I think if you opened up a Skagit location it would do well.”
Residents from Kitsap County made their case as well. “Kitsap County please! We’d like one over this way too.” Another pleaded: “Kitsap County plssss, come across the water.”
South Sound residents weren’t shy either. “You need a location in Olympia,” one commenter wrote.
Another questioned why Tacoma remains without a Dick’s. “How on earth has there not been a Tacoma location yet? Tacoma would be the second biggest market after Seattle.”
Elsewhere, fans lobbied for Lake Stevens, Monroe, Renton, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Burlington, Mount Vernon, and virtually every corner of the state.
One Pasco resident summed up the mood simply: “I am soo jealous.”
Then there was perhaps the most ambitious request of all: “Please come to Butte, Montana. This town needs you guys!”
More Expansion Ahead?
Dick’s has not announced where it plans to expand after Tulalip. But if the reaction online is any indication, there appears to be no shortage of communities willing to make their pitch.
For now, burger lovers in Tulalip and Marysville can celebrate landing the next location. Everyone else will have to keep campaigning.
