Pal's Sudden Service, normally called Pal's for short, is a regional fast food restaurant chain located in northeast Tennessee and southwesternVirginia, with stores concentrated in the Tri-Cities, Tennessee metro region. The first Pal's opened in 1956 in Kingsport, Tennessee a year after the founder of Pal's, Fred "Pal" Barger, attended a National Restaurant Convention in Chicago and met Ray Kroc and Fred Turner, observing the construction and equipment they used for the first McDonald's restaurant. Pal's CEO is Thom Crosby. In 2020, the company had 29 locations. In 2001, Pal's won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, becoming the first restaurant company to receive the award.
Organizational culture
The organization is often studied by competition and used as a case study for Industrial/Organizational Psychologists. This is per the company's unique organizational culture, with training that includes pop quizzes and over 200 hours of training for employees, which results in significantly low turnover for the industry.
Aesthetics
Pal's drive-throughs are recognized by their novelty architecture in the form of large replicas of food items placed on the roof. Added in 1985, these were designed by California artists Karen and Tony Barone.
Company history
1956 - First Pal’s opened Kingsport #01
1960 - Lynn Garden Drive Pal's.... this was 2nd Pal's....... still open in 2020
1967 - Brook's Circle Pal's #03 The earliest drive thru called Circle Burger.
1985 - First box/tier design drive thrus open in Kingsport. Pal's #04 in Colonial Heights.
2015 - Pal's opened Pal's #26 Bristol, Tennessee & Pal's #27 Morristown East
2016 - Pal's opened Pal's #28 Sunset Drive, Johnson City
2017 Pal’s celebrates the 30th year of the “Big Tea”
2019 Pal’s Celebrates 10th year of “Razzie Tea.”
2019 Pal’s Opened Pal’s #29 Abingdon
2020 Pal’s Introduces “Orange Delight Shake”
Menu
Breakfast
Breakfast is served from 6 AM - 10:30 AM on Monday - Saturday, and 7 AM - 11 AM on Sunday. Gravy Biscuit Sausage Biscuit Bacon Biscuit Butter Biscuit Country Ham Biscuit Cheddar Rounds- Large or Small Tenderloin Biscuit Coffee
Sandwiches
Chipped Ham - Cheese Optional, Mayo, Lettuce, Pickles Toasted Cheese - 2 Slices of Cheese on an inverted bun, Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato Big Chicken - Cheese, Mayo, Spicy Mustard, Lettuce Tomato
Burgers
Big Pal - Cheese Optional, Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion Double Big Pal - 2 Large Meat Patties, Cheese Optional, Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion Junior Burger - Cheese Optional, Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion Double Junior Burger - 2 Small Meat Patties, Cheese Optional, Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion Chili Burger - Small or Large, Chili, Cheese, Onion Sauceburger - Small Meat Patty in Pal's Signature Sauce Patty Melt - It makes your tongue slap your head
Hot Dogs
Hot Dog - Mustard, Chili, Onion Chili Bun - Mustard, Chili, Onion Bar-B-Dogs - BBQ, Add Slaw
Frenchie Fries
Frenchie Fry - Small or Large
Drinks
Big Tea - Sweet or Unsweet, Razzie, Peachie, 32 oz default Dr Pepper Pepsi Coke Diet Coke Sprite Mello Yello Pibb Xtra Dr. Enuf Orange Juice Milk Chocolate Shake Vanilla Shake Strawberry Shake P-Nut Butter Shake Powerade Orange Delight Shake Key Lime Shake
