Pal's facts for kids
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The first Pal’s location, in downtown Kingsport, Tennessee
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| Private | |
| Industry | Fast food |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Founder | Pal Barger |
| Headquarters | , |
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Number of locations
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31 (as of April 2023) |
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Area served
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East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia |
| Products | |
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Number of employees
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1100 (2024) |
Pal's Sudden Service, often called Pal's, is a popular fast food restaurant chain. It's mainly found in northeast Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. Most of its restaurants are in the Tri-Cities, Tennessee area.
The very first Pal's opened in 1956 in Kingsport, Tennessee. The founder, Fred "Pal" Barger, got the idea after visiting a restaurant convention. There, he met Ray Kroc, who started McDonald's. Pal Barger learned a lot about how to build and equip a fast food restaurant. Thom Crosby has been the CEO of Pal's since 1981. As of April 2023, Pal's had 31 locations.
In 2001, Pal's won a very special award called the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. This made them the first restaurant company ever to receive this honor.
How Pal's Works: A Unique Company Culture
Pal's is known for its special way of doing things. Many experts who study how companies work, called Industrial/Organizational Psychologists, often look at Pal's. They use it as an example of a great company culture.
Pal's has a unique training program for its employees. It includes fun pop quizzes and over 200 hours of training. Because of this great training, not many employees leave Pal's. This is very different from most fast food restaurants.
What Pal's Looks Like: Cool Buildings
You can easily spot a Pal's restaurant by its unique look. The drive-thrus often have big, fun replicas of food items on the roof. These cool designs were added in 1985 by artists Karen and Tony Barone.
The buildings are also usually painted a bright, light blue color. This bright color, along with the giant food items, makes Pal's stand out.
Pal's History: A Timeline
Pal's has grown a lot since it first started. Here's a look at some important dates:
- 1956 - The very first Pal's restaurant opened in Kingsport.
- 1958 - A second Pal's location opened on Lynn Garden Drive.
- 1985 - The first drive-thru restaurants with the famous "box" design opened in Kingsport.
- 1987 - Pal's created the popular "Big Tea."
- 1990 - A Pal's opened in Johnson City, near ETSU.
- 1991 - New locations opened in Greeneville and Gate City.
- 2001 - Pal's won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
- 2002 - President Bush presented the Baldrige Award to Pal's CEO Thom Crosby and founder Pal Barger.
- 2003 - Two new Pal's opened in Gray and Blountville.
- 2006 - A Pal's opened in Jonesborough.
- 2008 - Pal's opened its first Virginia location in Lebanon.
- 2009 - Pal's introduced "Razzie Tea."
- 2010 - A new Pal's opened in Norton, Virginia, having the biggest opening day for the company at that time.
- 2012 - Pal's launched a new 3D website. A new Pal's opened in Boone's Creek.
- 2013 - Pal's opened locations in Jefferson City and Erwin, Tennessee.
- 2015 - New Pal's opened in Bristol, Tennessee, and Morristown East.
- 2016 - A Pal's opened on Sunset Drive in Johnson City.
- 2020 - Store #30 opened in Abingdon. The founder, Pal Barger, passed away on October 29.
- 2023 - Pal's opened its 31st location in Kingsport, TN.
