Dairy Queen’s New Location Will Have Modern Look, More Seating

Construction is expected to begin in April on a new Holdrege Dairy Queen.

The new location on Burlington Street will create a better traffic flow, a more modern look, and will double the seating capacity.

“We’ve had consistent growth since we purchased the business four years ago,” co-owner Stacey Johnson said. “It’s increased with the support of the community and surrounding area.”

Johnson and Kelly Morten own the Holdrege Dairy Queen doing business as SCN Enterprises.

Morten said they purchased the northernmost lot north of the Cobblestone Inn & Suites in July 2022 and have been planning for construction since then. He said the design of the current location at 224 4th Ave. doesn’t fit today’s market. 

“The barn style of the current restaurant is a thing of the past,” Morten said. “We want to take the business to the next level.”

The Holdrege Dairy Queen was recognized for Outstanding Sales Achievement in 2022 by Dairy Queen corporate. The current location doesn’t allow for physical expansion, and the owners want to continue to grow the business.

The new modern-looking Dairy Queen will have improved curb appeal featuring a stucco exterior, attractive landscaping and Grill and Chill signage. It will be an 1,800-square-foot building with double the seating capacity in the dining room (up to 60 people) and a larger outdoor seating area. It will also allow for a more efficient drive-through, improve the workflow for employees, and offer more parking.

The current building will be offered for sale.

An Arkansas builder who specializes in Dairy Queen construction will lead the project. In late March, the builder released a call for bids to local subcontractors to help with heating and air, electrical, and concrete work for the new store.

Morten said construction could be complete as early as late August but may be closer to October depending on potential material shortages, contractor schedules and weather.

Currently, Dairy Queen employs 24 staff members with six of those being full-time. They predict a need to likely double the number of employees with the new location.

Dairy Queen will seek PCDC business and franchise grants to help with construction costs.