Today in history: The first Dick's location on 45th opened for business 65 years ago A new burger joint opens its windows and Seattle gets a bag of Dick's

65 years later, Dick's at Wallingford is still going strong. 65 years later, Dick's at Wallingford is still going strong. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO Image 1 of / 26 Caption Close Today in history: The first Dick's location on 45th opened for business 65 years ago 1 / 26 Back to Gallery

Even in an unseasonably warm January like the one we're having, there aren't many outdoor restaurants that could attract a crowd in the dead of Seattle's winter. Enter Dick's.

On this day in 1954, Dick's Drive-In opened its first spot along Northeast 45th Street, serving hamburgers, french fries and milkshakes fast and easy. And just like that, a Seattle legend was born.

It's possible there's no more iconic Seattle brand than Dick's which has been a mainstay since it opened 65 years ago, and spread to Broadway, lower Queen Anne, Lake City, Edmonds, and Kent. When Dick's announces that it's spreading to a new spot, it's big news. And when a Seattleite says they're going to get a bag of Dick's, no one even bats an eye.

RELATED: Billions served: Bill Gates photographed standing in line for a burger at Dick's Drive-In in Seattle

Opened by Dick Spady, a Portland-born World War II G.I., Dick's has always worked to be a bit better than your average fast food place: Spady offered his employees well above minimum wage; provided 100 percent paid health insurance, even to part-timers; and supported employees with scholarship funds.

And as the world grew around it, Dick's stayed relatively the same. Among the biggest changes were that you could order anything from any window, instead of separate lines for ordering burgers, fries, and ice cream. The advertising budget for Dick's remained relatively low because, as the company says on its site, they didn't need it.

Though Spady himself passed at age 92 in January of 2016, his legacy lives on both with his family, who still own and operate the Dick's franchise, and the joint itself, which is still slinging Deluxes and shakes along 45th.

RELATED: Could Kent Dick's Drive-In be torn down for Sound Transit facility?

Dick's prices -- though they've gone up, much to the minor consternation of long-time Seattle residents -- remain relatively low, and the food is as reliable as ever.

Which, of course, makes their tomorrow anniversary special all the more appealing: In honor of their 1954 grand opening, on Tuesday you can buy one of their regular hamburgers or cheeseburgers for just 19 cents.

Want to know more? Click through the slideshow above to hear some behind the scenes the facts that one Dick's employee shared in a Reddit AMA.