By Jean Godden

On the first Sunday in September, I drove into the Lake City Dick's Drive-In for my favorite comfort food (a Dick's Deluxe Burger, an order of fries and a chocolate shake). As I paid for my order with the usual handful of scrounged bills, quarters and the change located in the bottom of my purse, I blinked, wiped my eyes in disbelief and stared at something new and unexpected. 

Positioned on the counter, opposite the cash register, was a credit-card machine. Unimaginable. After 62 years, Dick's has gone plastic.I somehow missed the July announcement that Dick's, well known for its cash-only policy, was preparing to accept credit and debit cards as well as Apple Pay. All six Dick's locations began accepting plastic on September 1. (A seventh location, maybe in West Seattle or Burien, is soon to be announced.) 

According to Jim Spady, Dick's president, allowing credit sales was one of the last decisions made by his dad, Dick Spady, the chain's founder and namesake who passed away in January. JIm Spady says the reason the changeover took time was the need to update cash systems and to figure out how to "round up for charity." Dick's traditionally has collected spare cash, donations for such local charities as Mary's Place, FareStart and Operation Nightwatch. The new credit system has been tweaked to allow for those "round-up" charity donations.

What makes the switch to plastic newsworthy is that Dick's is more than just your typical, no great shakes (oh yeah?) burger outlet. Dick's is a Seattle institution with an outsized national reputation. In 2012, Dick's bested such heavyweight hamburger chains as Five Guys and In-N-out in an Esquire.com survey as "the most life-changing burger joint." 

Dick's acquired national status partly thanks to exposure by music headliners such as Sir-Mix-a-Lot, Macklemore, Blue Scholars and the Presidents of the United States. Dick's iconic burger bag even starred in a movie, "Love Happens," along with Jennifer Aniston. 

National notoriety aside, the chain has earned a reputation as one of Seattle's most progressive enterprises. Dick's paid employees above minimum wage before that was a rallying cry. The chain offers employees 100 percent medical coverage, 401K matches and $22,000 college tuition scholarships after six-months' work. 

The nation's "most life-changing burger joint" succeeded despite its limited menu. All that was ever offered were four styles of burgers, one size of hand-cut fries, three classic shakes, root beer floats, soda and ice cream.

The chain was founded in 1954 by Dick Spady, a former U. S. Navy food service officer, and his two partners, H. Warren Ghormley and Dr. B.O.A. Thomas, a pediatrician. The decision to call the first drive-in "Dick's" was a brilliant public relations coup, a common touch.

What else was brilliant has seldom been reported -- excuse me for a small measure of reflected glory. But here it is: Dick's corporate logo was devised by my late husband, commercial artist Bob Godden. Bob drew the "Dick's" sign with a star dotting the "I" and the trademarked picture on Dick's burger bags. The drawing shows a drive-in with a 50s style roof and three cars parked out front. The one in the middle is our old Chevvy -- the one whose bumpers I kept denting. Inside the car you can see a couple kissing. I like to think it's Bob and me, but it could be any affectionate duo.

Just file this information under "little known facts" about Dick's, along with the fact that the drive-in is the go-to burger joint for Microsoft's Bill Gates. When you can have any dish you want, isn't it great that the wealthiest man in the world patronizes Seattle's "life-changing" burger hangout? And now, if Bill wants to, he can use plastic.

Jim Spady is famous for once having said that "The only reason people still carry cash in Seattle is to eat at Dick's Drive-in." That's no longer true and, in a way, it's a pity.