Something old, something new — Dairy Queen is coming to a city near you

PALMER — Restaurants in Palmer are about to get some new competition in the form of DQ Grill and Chill, the new age of Dairy Queen restaurants.

Although franchise owner Greg Todd and wife Kathleen were hoping to open the Palmer location in August to take advantage of the Alaska State Fair, the opening was pushed back because of delays with shipping the restaurant’s equipment. Even so, they still expect the October opening to attract a crowd.

“I think it’s going to explode,” Greg Todd said.

In June, Todd opened his first DQ Gill and Chill in Anchorage along Tudor Road. The grand opening of the outlet was a success. The Anchorage DQ broke nearly all Dairy Queen sales records, including single day sales, weekly sales and monthly sales. And with the way things are going Todd also believes it’s possible for the Tudor store to break the chain’s annual sales record.

“We blew out the previous records by 25 percent,” he said.

Todd credits the popularity of Dairy Queen to three main factors — a wide selection of tasty food, well trained employees and loyal customers.

“We have something for everybody,” he said.

Not only will the restaurant carry a bountiful supply of Blizzards, a unique ice cream treat, but it will also serve salads, spicy chicken sandwiches, hamburgers and popcorn shrimp among other fast-food menu items.

Brad Elias, a Palmer resident, said the variety of food Dairy Queen offers is one of best things about the restaurant. But the variety of food isn’t the only good thing about the Palmer location.

“I’m sure it will give some people jobs,” said Elias.

Todd noticed the value of knowledgeable employees when the Anchorage store was flooded with customers, he said. To make sure Palmer employees are prepared for a similar rush, he’s requiring them to receive an extra two weeks of training. Todd plans to hire about 65 people, which includes full-time and part-time personnel.

“A lot of people don’t know our menu, so our staff will have to be able to make suggestions,” he said.

Although some might think that DQ Grill and Chill is a fast-food restaurant, Todd said that’s not entirely accurate. “We’re not fast-food we are quick serve.”

Instead of placing an order and waiting for your food at the counter, customers take a seat and their food is brought to their table, he said. Employees called expediters carry out this task and are expected to familiarize themselves with the menu and be personable. While customers enjoy the friendly atmosphere inside, people looking for a in-car meal will still be able to take advantage of the fluid movement of the drive-through window.

“My main goal is to have people come here and have fun,” Todd said.

The restaurant will feature a play area for children, but the fun isn’t just for kids, Todd said. The play area will also include tables and a television where people of all ages can enjoy watching their favorite program or cheer on a favorite sports team.

“I’m really trying to make it a family restaurant,” he said.

Although Greg and Kathleen Todd are new to the restaurant business they’re not new to being business owners. They also own One Stop Travel and a coffee shop called Moose A’la Mode in Anchorage. Even with three other businesses to run, the Todds hope the Palmer store will be as busy as the Anchorage location. They plan to open another DQ Grill and Chill in Wasilla next

summer.

Contact Chris Gillow at 352-2284 or chris.gillow@frontiersman.com.