HOUSTON – Certain childhood memories are just unforgettable and with dozens of Dairy Queen locations closing in Texas, some of those thoughts came flooding back for several members of our KPRC 2 team.
MORE: More than 20 Dairy Queen locations closing in Texas
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Known to some folks as the “Texas Stop Sign” because of how many there are in small cities across the state, KPRC 2 Investigates’ Joel Eisenbaum reports that due to a spat between franchisees and their corporate office, there will soon be less.
While none of the fast food chains in the City of Houston will be closed, places in surrounding areas like Tomball, Cleveland, Huntsville, Huffman, and Dayton are poised to shut down. The news nonetheless prompted disappointed groans from my colleagues and curiously, I wanted to know what was so special.
From our Manager of Content Creation, Tiffani Lupenski:
“DQ was a staple of my childhood growing up in San Antonio. I was a member of my church youth choir and we would go on tours to other churches in small towns in Texas giving performances. Every tour, we stopped at every Dairy Queen we could. It was like learning more about my home state through the eyes of DQ!”
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From Meteorologist Justin Stapleton:
“We would always go to DQ after swim meets and get blizzards. My fav was vanilla with M&M’s although, I was tired of the M&M’s after I had like 5 of them.”
From Investigates Producer Andrea Slaydon:
“Long before I was an investigative news producer I started my working career bringing the scoop to people via ice cream. The day I turned 16 I got my first job as a proud Dairy Queen front desk worker. I LOVED my job. In the small town where I am from the Dairy Queen was the only fast food restaurant in a 15-mile radius. Working at a Dairy Queen meant you were the first to know everything about everyone. Known as the ‘Texas road stop’ the local DQ was the town watering hole. Arrest? Divorce? Gossip? We were the first to know.
“I loved working the DQ drive-thru. The fast-paced environment was my first taste of multitasking under pressure, a skill that is crucial in the newsroom. Handling multiple orders at once, getting it all right, and maintaining a friendly attitude are skills I do daily!
“From serving up Blizzards to breaking news, my journey from Dairy Queen to the newsroom taught me that no matter where you start, every experience shapes where you are today. Thanks, DQ!”