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 just called Pal's, is a popular fast food restaurant chain. You can find their restaurants in northeast Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. Most of their locations are in the Tri-Cities, Tennessee area.
The very first Pal's opened its doors in 1956 in Kingsport, Tennessee. The founder, Fred "Pal" Barger, got the idea after visiting a restaurant convention. There, he saw how the first McDonald's restaurant was being built. Pal's has grown a lot since then. As of 2023, there are 31 Pal's locations. Thom Crosby has been the CEO of Pal's since 1981.
In 2001, Pal's won a very special award called the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. They were the first restaurant company ever to receive this honor! This award recognizes companies that are excellent at what they do.
What Makes Pal's Special?
Pal's is known for its unique way of doing things. Many experts study the company to learn about its special culture. They have a very detailed training program for employees. This training includes fun pop quizzes and over 200 hours of learning. Because of this great training, not many employees leave their jobs at Pal's. This is quite unusual for the fast food industry!
Unique Building Look
You can easily spot a Pal's restaurant because of its cool design. They have novelty architecture, which means the buildings look like something fun and different. On the roof, you'll often see giant models of food items, like a huge hot dog or a giant burger. These fun decorations were added in 1985 and were designed by artists Karen and Tony Barone.
The buildings are also usually painted a bright, eye-catching blue color. This bright blue, along with the giant food items, makes Pal's stand out.
Pal's History Highlights
Pal's has been serving up tasty food for many years. Here are some important moments in their history:
- 1956 - The very first Pal's restaurant opened in Kingsport, Tennessee.
- 1985 - The first Pal's drive-thrus with the famous "box" design and rooftop food items opened.
- 1987 - Pal's created their popular "Big Tea."
- 1990s - Pal's began to open more locations in different cities like Johnson City, Greeneville, and Bristol.
- 1998 - The "Big Breakfast" was introduced to the menu.
- 2001 - Pal's won the prestigious Baldrige National Quality Award.
- 2002 - The President of the United States, George W. Bush, personally presented the Baldrige Award to Pal's CEO Thom Crosby and founder Pal Barger.
- 2009 - Pal's introduced a new drink called "Razzie Tea."
- 2020 - Pal's opened its 30th store. Sadly, founder Pal Barger passed away this year.
- 2023 - Pal's opened its 31st location in Kingsport, Tennessee.
