Dairy Queen: King of soft services

Ice cream has been around and enjoyed for centuries, but the concept of soft serve was not developed until 1938 by Iowa-born John Fremont McCullough and his son Alex. Together they convinced a friend, Sherb Noble, to offer the innovative product at his ice cream parlor in Kankakee, Illinois, a small town south of Chicago. On the first day of sales, to everyone’s surprise, Noble served more than 1,600 servings of the new dessert in two hours. (It seems like it was a success). Knowing they were into something big, Noble and the McCulloughs opened the first Dairy Queen store two years later in Joliet, Illinois, putting Mr. Noble at the helm (who better) that opened for business on June 22, the perfect time. for the long hot summer. Although this original site has not been in operation since the 1950s, the building still stands as a designated landmark, recalling simpler times for passing Boomers.

For decades Dairy Queens was and is a fixture of social life in small towns in the Midwest and South and in the 70’s, keeping up with (and the competition) most DQs added fast food, including hot dogs, hamburgers and fries. , referring to their newer menu items as “Brazier”. Although some stores only open in summer, most remain open all year round. After all, why consume frozen treats only seasonally unless you live in North Dakota? The largest store is located in Bloomington, IL, home to a state university. The busiest honors go to Prince Edward Island, Canada (see figure). In 2014, Dairy Queen registered more than 6,400 stores in more than 25 countries (75% of which are in the US). For decades, the old adage boasted that every town in Texas had a DQ. While it is no longer literally true as America’s small towns dwindle, the largest concentration is still in the lone star state.

All DQs now carry the Orange Julius drink, a brand they acquired in 1987, and many stores can be found in food courts and malls across the country. DQ actually has two official fan clubs: Blizzard and Orange Julius. Blizzard fans of more than 4 million take their choices seriously, with a variety of ingredients and combinations available. DQ also offers specialty ice cream cakes, along with its traditional selection of soft treats, cone toppings, and toppings.

Across the country, many single-unit mom and dad stalls took notice and opened on Memorial Day to serve local children, with stalls without a lift, often calling themselves “frozen custard.” No one cared about the name, it meant creamy vanilla and chocolate cones and cups, maybe a few picnic tables to rest and an after-dinner treat a short drive from home. Local children looked forward to their short but sweet hours, which sadly closed after Labor Day. Simple names like Al’s, Bert’s or Tastee Treat began to appear on busy street corners and children rode their bikes eagerly anticipating what awaited them, with a dime or quarter tucked away in their pockets. These stalls rarely offered more than the two basic flavors, but if one was lucky, there might as well be a strawberry flavor (oh boy). (Author’s note: Your local soft serve stand featured spearmint, which was over the top, especially with hot fudge.)

Minor competitors like Tastee-Freez and Fosters Freeze started in California in the 1950s and have fewer than 50 locations each, but they continue to thrive with a cadre of loyal customers.

So who wants soft ice cream? At any time of the year, it hits the spot. If you don’t have a store near you, maybe a frozen yogurt, but it won’t be the same. Check out your local mall and you just might be in luck. And don’t worry: Mom was wrong, she won’t spoil your dinner.