FEDERAL WAY, WA —Dick’s Drive-In announced Thursday that it plans to open its ninth location next year in The Commons at Federal Way shopping center.

Jasmine Donovan, president of Dick’s Drive-In, and granddaughter of founder Dick Spady, said the exact timeline for the 2023 opening depends on permitting and the construction process in the post-COVID-19 world.

According to the company, the restaurant will be a stand-alone building with a parking lot and service windows on the exterior of the building.

“We are thrilled to announce our next location,” Donovan said. “When we searched for our first location in South King County, we loved every city and community we visited and wished we could open a location in all of them. It’s very exciting to share that we will soon be creating delicious memories in Federal Way.”

Like all Dick’s Drive-Ins, the Federal Way location will be known for “low prices, instant service and quality food,” according to the company.

The menu will feature burgers made from fresh-never-frozen USA certified Angus ground beef served on fresh and locally-made buns, as well as hand-cut fries from Washington potatoes and hand-dipped and individually whipped milkshakes

The new location is expected to add 50 jobs, and the company said it offers “the best wages and benefits in the industry,” which include: 100-percent employer-paid health insurance for all employees and a $28,000 scholarship for all employees working at least 20 hours per week.

Additionally, all of Dick’s shift, store and regional managers are promoted from within, according to the company.

“Some people have wondered why we would continue to grow with all the uncertainty we face right now,” Donovan said. “We are proud of the jobs we provide and want to provide more opportunity to people, especially during these challenging times.”

According to its website, the first Dick’s Drive-In opened on Jan. 28, 1954, on N.E. 45th Street in the Wallingford District of Seattle. The restaurant remains open to this day.

“The nostalgia I experience each time I get to enjoy a Dick’s Drive-In burger brings me back to Husky Football and the UW,” Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell said. “Dick’s is not just an iconic restaurant in our region, they are a great community partner, and we are excited to welcome this wonderful business to Federal Way.”

The other Dick’s Drive-In locations are:

• N.E. 45thStreet, Seattle
• 115 Broadway East, Seattle, though temporarily closed for a remodel until summer 2022
• 21910 Hwy. 99, Edmonds
• 500 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle
• 9208 Holman Rd. NW, Seattle
• 12325 30th Ave. NE, Seattle
• 24220 Pacific Hwy. S., Kent
• Dick’s Drive-in at Crossroads Mall, 15600 NE 8th St. Suite 0-1, Bellevue