HISTORY

Hires Story

Hires Drive-In was founded in 1959 by Don Hale. Don was a grocer by trade. During the depression, his parents built a grocery store onto their home to help supplement the family income.

Years later, Don worked his way through school and supported his young family by operating the grocery store. Always being involved with fresh produce and quality meat through the grocery store, Don decided to become a restaurateur by opening a hamburger drive-in in Salt Lake City.

Because of Don's attention to detail, Hires Big H Drive-in has become famous for its sensational Big H, fresh cut fries, homemade onion rings, special dipping sauce and frosty mugs of root beer.

Hires Big H is "the gathering place" for tasty food and cheerful service for friends and families - creating traditions and memories through the years.

Alongside a successful man, there often stands a wonderful woman. Such is the case with Don Hale. Don married the beautiful Shirley Hickman in 1947. Shirley has supported Don in his many endeavors, assisting in the restaurants, particularly in the early days, by providing recipes and making sauces. Shirley happily raised four children and in many respects is the reason for any success the Hale family has achieved.

Hires Kitchen

Did you know that the Hires Central Kitchen is the source of Hires Big H tasty food?

Hires kitchen makes Hires pure beef patties fresh daily by cutting and grinding top-quality chuck. The Hires Veggie H patties are made with five fresh vegetables and other all-natural products. You're going to love this tasty vegetarian patty which has a mere 1/2 gram of fat.

Hires Chili is made from scratch using a wonderful blend of spices and ingredients.

Hires famous French Fries are cut each day from whole potatoes and its golden Onion Rings are sliced from whole onions and always fried to a golden perfection. And customers cannot resist Hires' own Fry Sauce - the perfect sauce for your summer barbeque favorites, fries and rings.

Hires crisp Salads and toasted Garlic Breads are especially tasty since the Roquefort, Thousand Island and French dressings and Garlic Butter are all made from scratch. And for dessert, take home one of Hires' delicious homemade brownies.

Hires purchases its fresh produce directly from the Salt Lake produce docks. A local bakery daily bakes and delivers Hires fresh-baked buns including a Utah favorite, the tasty Hires Big H bun.

As you can taste, Hires Big H food is distinguishably delicious and is all available to take home.

Hires National Acclaim

Gourmet Magazine writes. "Better to head for Hires Big H drive-in downtown, where actual carhops will take your order once you turn on your headlights. The Big H Burgers are fresh-ground, the buns the real item, the onion rings (served with another local wrinkle: 'fry sauce,' an amalgam of mayonnaise, ketchup, and who-knows-what secret ingredients) a credit to the genre.

Go native by ordering a Salt Lake favorite, the pastrami burger, an outrageous concept in which layers of cured meat add a salty, peppery je ne sais quoi to your basic hamburger patty. Finish with that classic Mormon cocktail, the frosty root beer float. Who cares if it's winter? Utahns' love affair with ice cream thrives year-round."

Alison Cook, "Let the Games Begin," Gourmet Magazine, Jan. 2000: 51

The Wall Street Journal writes. "This drive-thru, with four outlets in Salt Lake City, offers burgers as well as root beer in five sizes (plus root-beer floats). Its burgers include the 'New York H' with grilled onions and the 'Big H,' which comes with lettuce, tomato, special sauce and cheese. French fries come with dipping sauce, chili or melted cheese. There's carhop service as well as dining-room seating."

"Drive-Thru Classics," The Wall Street Journal, Friday, Sept. 14, 2002: W2

Hires Local Acclaim

The Deseret News writes in its review:

BOB: "A good old-fashioned burger. No gimmicks, just a great burger. The emphasis on the buns, produced on-site, ground beef and fresh ingredients really pays off. Probably the best-tasting burger for your buck. One of my favorites."

HEATHER: "No one can beat Hire's for a basic burger. As fresh as they come, it tastes homemade and is sure to please the pickiest of palates."

CHRISTIE: "Fresh, fresh, fresh. Making the best from the local butcher, baker and produce. History repeats itself daily with this great tasting iconic burger."

CRAIG: "No restaurant-type burger here, but what you picture when you and friends say "hamburger" - that's what Hire's does better than anybody. The Hale family makes burgers like we should raise kids: From start to finish they leave nothing to chance or to the kindness of strangers. Long live the king."

Bob Noyce, "Salt Lake's Best Burgers," Deseret News, June 2002