Dairy Queen - is it coming back in Laconia?

[EricP]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

Yes, I agree. We get flooded with commercials on TV about Sonic here in CT. But, the closest Sonic I can see on their corporate map is NJ. I love their burgers but I ain't driving to NJ for one.

Sonic just opened on RT1 in Danvers, MA, haven't been there yet but it is always busy, even at midnight on Wednesdays! If one were drving from Winni to CT, you could go down 95 and get off/on RT1 and hit Sonic en route, sure a bit extra travel but it's an option.

[ronc4424]

Sonic just opened on RT1 in Danvers, MA, haven't been there yet but it is always busy, even at midnight on Wednesdays! If one were drving from Winni to CT, you could go down 95 and get off/on RT1 and hit Sonic en route, sure a bit extra travel but it's an option.



ERICP........Sonic opened up there new store on rt.#1 North in Peabody,Ma

[john60ri]

Speaking of all these fast food places: I lived in Florida back in the '80s, and 3 of my favorites were Taco Viva (Mexican), Bojangles (Chicken) and Long John Silvers (Fish). I believe there's a Long John Silvers in the Boston area, but I've never seen the other two around here. As for DQ, we had a few down here in RI when I was a kid, but I don't think there are any down here now. They only had soft serve ice cream back then, if I recall, but it was always a treat.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by john60ri

Speaking of all these fast food places: I lived in Florida back in the '80s, and 3 of my favorites were Taco Viva (Mexican), Bojangles (Chicken) and Long John Silvers (Fish). I believe there's a Long John Silvers in the Boston area, but I've never seen the other two around here. As for DQ, we had a few down here in RI when I was a kid, but I don't think there are any down here now. They only had soft serve ice cream back then, if I recall, but it was always a treat.

There is a Long John Silvers in the Heights near Wally World. (Super Walmart)

[mcdude]

From the Laconia Daily Sun

LACONIA — As Dairy Queen reopened its doors
this month, owners Michael and Michelle Merrill
are celebrating their 10th year in business at the
Union Avenue ice cream shop and their 14th year
of partnership with Meredith Village Savings Bank.
Over the past several months, the Merrills have
been building the new Dairy Queen structure with
commercial financing from MVSB. The new building,
which features a drive-through window, increased
floor space and the same two-window walk-up service,
replaces an older building that had stood on the
lot since the 1960s.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to give the
business a fresh new face and expand on some of the
products we’ve been offering for years,” said Mike
and Michelle Merrill.
When the business reopened for the season, there were
a few more menu items to choose from. In addition to softserve
ice cream, Blizzards, and other traditional “DQ”
treats, there were also be hot dogs and fruit smoothies by
Orange Julius, a popular mall-based franchise.
The Merrills started their first business in 1996,
when they purchased the Lake Shore Deli on Route
25 in Meredith with financing from MVSB. In 2001,
they began leasing that property to other small
business owners and went into business again in
Laconia with the Dairy Queen purchase.
“When we first came to MVSB in 1996, we worked
with Sam Laverack,” said Mike Merrill. Now president
and CEO and a 34-year veteran of the bank, Laverack
was a commercial lender for MVSB for several years.
They’ve been working with John Swedberg, vice president/
commercial lender at MVSB for the past 10 years.
“It all started with a handshake and it’s grown into
a rewarding partnership that has allowed us to grow
and expand well beyond our initial business goals,”
said Merrill. “We’re really comfortable with John and
know him and his family very well too. Our kids play
basketball together and we’ve come to develop a close
and trusting working relationship over the years.”
The Merrills are excited about the re-opening of
their business and, looking even further into the
future, see the possibility of opening an additional
Dairy Queen location in the Lakes Region.
“As always, we’ll run it past John and see what
he thinks,” said Merrill. “There’s a lot to be said for
working with a community bank with people you can
trust. When we come in with new ideas, we know we’ll
always get a straight answer, an honest opinion and a
recommendation that’s in our best interests.”
More information about the bank can be found at
www.mvsb.com.

[BroadHopper]

It is obvious, it is a drive thru than a drive in. Good luck with that!

[NHBoat70]

Is it just me, or is the Dairy Queen parking lot set up in a really bad way? You have people going out the entrance and people coming in the exit...as the weather gets warmer, it's going to be awful!! Be ready LPD, you'll be seeing a bunch of accidents there this summer.

[RI Swamp Yankee]

Originally Posted by NHBoat70

.....as the weather gets warmer, it's going to be awful!! .....

Well, when the weather gets warmer the deliberation is Dairy Queen ...Sawyers .... Dairy Queen .... Sawyers ....

You don't need 3 guesses as to where I am headed.

[Argie's Wife]

It's supposed to be about 60 degrees here today and tomorrow... Maybe we should set up some lawn chairs, fill some coolers, and watch the action from across the street from DQ... it's gonna be nutz!

[WinnDixie]

Liked DQ and did visit when I lived up there, and I can picture what you all are saying about the traffic problem. I also was a regular at Dunkin Donuts and remember what trouble is possible there. If the big "donut truck" was there..forget it--drive on by. So I am wondering, don't these traffic problems get taken into consideration when permission is granted for such new changes as DQ now has? Is the thinking that it'll iron itself out when the newness wears off? I would doubt this will happen.

Now, RI Swamp Yankee, you have cut to the chase..."Sawyers"!! We have a change bowl collecting $$ for Sawyers when we come up! Ummmm!

[Sunbeam lodge]

Originally Posted by mcdude

From the Laconia Daily Sun

My how times have changed.I can still remember my first home mortgage with a banker named Walter Mc Cauley in Rockland Mass and the dealings with him over the twenty
five years his bank held my mortgage. $135.10 a month for 25 years with never a payment missed. Now, fast forward to today's experience with Wall Street and the bankers.
Now the money being spent to buy our representatives in congress and the house of Representatives the destruction of middle class wealth and our insistence on fighting to protect other countries who don't appreciate our efforts are destroying the moral of the people.
What ever happened to the Spirit of this country where your heart used to skip a beat to hear the Star Spangled Banner. When I used to traveled over seas I was very proud of the U.S. and most people were always envious of our country, that has changed..
It does not appear that our children will never know or experience those day's.

[Merrymeeting]

56 replies to a thread about Dairy Queen... wow...

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

56 replies to a thread about Dairy Queen... wow...

Shoot... that's nuttin'... you should see what we can do when asked: "Where can I buy some Girl Scout Cookies?"

[Meredith lady]

Argie's wife...your post is so funny I am sitting here alone and laughing my head off!! Have a great weekend!

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Shoot... that's nuttin'... you should see what we can do when asked: "Where can I buy some Girl Scout Cookies?"

Dairy Queen should be ashamed of themselves for selling ice cream, which is terribly fattening.

[EricP]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

There is a Long John Silvers in the Heights near Wally World. (Super Walmart)

I can't bring myself to go there, we in the Northeast know what seafood is and IMHO Long John Silvers is seafood for those in the middle of the country who don't know the difference

[Airedale1]

IMO the new layout at the Laconia DQ appears to be ill conceived. It will cause traffic to back up on Union Avenue and in addition I believe the new layout with it's lack of the picnic tables has changed the character of the DQ for the worse.

Prior to the change it was a place where local families could congregate and enjoy their treats in a leisurely fashion, which was a large part of the experience. It seems that the new layout is designed to just move folks out a.s.a.p.

[john60ri]

Thanks to Broadhopper and EricP. When I'm up there in August, I will stop at the Long John Silvers in Concord. Just for old times sake. Blast from the past, so to speak.

[magicrobotmonkey]

Originally Posted by Airedale1

IMO the new layout at the Laconia DQ appears to be ill conceived. It will cause traffic to back up on Union Avenue and in addition I believe the new layout with it's lack of the picnic tables has changed the character of the DQ for the worse.

Prior to the change it was a place where local families could congregate and enjoy their treats in a leisurely fashion, which was a large part of the experience. It seems that the new layout is designed to just move folks out a.s.a.p.

I agree, my wife and I just drove by on the way home from Kitchen Cravings and were talking about how we would never use a drive through at an ice cream shop. Half the fun is waiting in line with your dog, swatting mosquito's! What's the world come to, indeed, when you can fill up on ice cream without leaving your car!

Also, for us its a toss up between sawyers and jordans!

[no-engine]

Originally Posted by Airedale1

IMO the new layout at the Laconia DQ appears to be ill conceived. It will cause traffic to back up on Union Avenue and in addition I believe the new layout with it's lack of the picnic tables has changed the character of the DQ for the worse.

Prior to the change it was a place where local families could congregate and enjoy their treats in a leisurely fashion, which was a large part of the experience. It seems that the new layout is designed to just move folks out a.s.a.p.

I AGREE, VERY ILL CONCEIVED!

I sometimes go by between 8am and 10am, including today Saturday, and see the same vehicle(s) parked in reverse direction that parking is designed and striped. What's with that? Must be shift managers. The spaces are angled to go head in, but drivers find a way to back in. Beyond common sense, as they are near the doors. If I were owner/manager/employee, I'd park not afraid to walk so that clients can park efficiently.

[AKADQ]

Originally Posted by no-engine

I AGREE, VERY ILL CONCEIVED!

I sometimes go by between 8am and 10am, including today Saturday, and see the same vehicle(s) parked in reverse direction that parking is designed and striped. What's with that? Must be shift managers. The spaces are angled to go head in, but drivers find a way to back in. Beyond common sense, as they are near the doors. If I were owner/manager/employee, I'd park not afraid to walk so that clients can park efficiently.

You certainly have to much time on your hands to worry about this, and NO the parking spaces are not angled as you have stated. Last I checked, I don't recall selling any ice cream between the hours of 8-10 am. So beyond common sense as you have put it, don't be so reckless to judge until you have all your facts in order !...

[EricP]

Originally Posted by ronc4424

ERICP........Sonic opened up there new store on rt.#1 North in Peabody,Ma

I realized that that after I posted. Thanks.

[spiderpig]

The new Dairy Queen / Orange Julius is open for business complete with a drive-thru. I experienced the traffic (and sampled some ice cream) the other day. As I approached (from Friendly's side) I saw several cars in the turning lane (headed north) trying to turn into DQ but the cars were stacked up at the drive-thru and blocking the entrance. I chose to drive past QD and pull into the lot next door and walk over. While there (about 20 minutes) I saw the traffic problems continue.

This is gonna be a real problem when the summer months get here and the traffic is busier in and around DQ!

I am glad to see they now serve hot dogs though I was hoping they would expand the DQ menu to include burgers and more.

[trfour]

A little History, although a little off topic. They have always been a great outfit.

Back in the day, I'm talking late fifties, a Dairy Queen had closed and the building was torn down leaving an empty parking lot next to Fordge Pond on route 18 in East Bridgewater MA. Us kids would gather there to enjoy the waterfront and reminisce about the Awesome Ice Cream.

There are some great Dairy Queens here in Texas, and I don't know how hi-test they are go'in to go up there in NH, but they serve gourmet tex-mex, burgers, salads, Onion'en rings and fries here what's pretty dang good!

It Is good news for me to see that another part of history is being restored to the Lakes Region!

Best wishes to y'all


Terry
_____________________________

[riverat]

Originally Posted by spiderpig

The new Dairy Queen / Orange Julius is open for business complete with a drive-thru. I experienced the traffic (and sampled some ice cream) the other day. As I approached (from Friendly's side) I saw several cars in the turning lane (headed north) trying to turn into DQ but the cars were stacked up at the drive-thru and blocking the entrance. I chose to drive past QD and pull into the lot next door and walk over. While there (about 20 minutes) I saw the traffic problems continue.

This is gonna be a real problem when the summer months get here and the traffic is busier in and around DQ!

I am glad to see they now serve hot dogs though I was hoping they would expand the DQ menu to include burgers and more.

I was going to stop last Friday for an Orange Julius (have not had one in years, Yum) but the traffic going in was a problem, looked like a toll booth.
Hopefully next time I am passing thru there I can score.

[Argie's Wife]

After the dust settles, I know a little 8 year old boy who would absolutely love to try DQ for the first time... (this is a kid that asks for sundaes for suppa... on a hot summer day I admit to giving in a few times...)

[meredith weekender]

We went by earlier in the week and the line was backed up and parking did not exist. I do not understand why DQ put in less parking than what they had before. hopefully we'll get there to have a julius.

[Hshag]

I went to the DQ after the Laconia Home Show Yesterday.. I had to wait in the middle strip on the road for 2 to 3 mins before I could enter the parking lot. Parking is going to be a major problem.
I noticed the speaker for the drive-thru was way too far back. You have to order at the front of the drive-thru, this causes the backup into the road. Also the cars that are parked can’t leave because they are blocked by the cars in line. They could get more cars in the drive-thru if they put the speaker to the other end of the building. This might help a little but there is going to be major problems.
Oh yea, The ice cream was excellent and the large cone was completely filled to the bottom.

[riverat]

Originally Posted by Hshag

Oh yea, The ice cream was excellent and the large cone was completely filled to the bottom.

Yum,,,

[corollaman]

Originally Posted by spiderpig

The new Dairy Queen / Orange Julius is open for business complete with a drive-thru. I experienced the traffic (and sampled some ice cream) the other day. As I approached (from Friendly's side) I saw several cars in the turning lane (headed north) trying to turn into DQ but the cars were stacked up at the drive-thru and blocking the entrance. I chose to drive past QD and pull into the lot next door and walk over. While there (about 20 minutes) I saw the traffic problems continue.

This is gonna be a real problem when the summer months get here and the traffic is busier in and around DQ!

I am glad to see they now serve hot dogs though I was hoping they would expand the DQ menu to include burgers and more.

That's why I think drive-thrus are a bad idea. I remember what it was like at DD across the street! Hopefully the new DD next to the old Hathaway house isn't like that.