Did you DQ today?

Contrary to what some may tell you, I was not born in a log cabin (or a barn).  But my earliest years were spent behind a Dairy Queen store - this Dairy Queen store:

My parents' original store at 2009 North Atherton Street, State College, Pa.  

This shot dates from about 1963.  I think the site is now a bank.  

Like the world needed another bank. Booo hisss!

There's Uncle  Atom on the left, and BTW, I was already

 an uncle in real life when this photo was taken with my Dad. 

With that hood I look like a DQ cone with a curl on top!

Relatives hanging out with us at the DQ

In those days the DQ would close for the winter and reopen in the spring.

By the time I was five, Dad was ready to get out from behind the counter and do something else. So when I was old enough to get a part time job, the man who bought the DQ from my parents offered me a job at another DQ location in town.

 

Would you buy a Peanut Buster Parfait from this guy?

All of this is background to the real reason for this post. On a recent weekend getaway we stumbled upon a vintage Dairy Queen store in Buckhannon, WV, so I HAD TO STOP and get some photos. The store dates to about 1957 and is styled somewhat differently than the one my father built himself.  Notice in the above black and white photos that that store had the slanted roof, an architectural feature I really love.  Also note that the Buckhannon store's red shingles are not original but were added later to appease International DQ.

I struck up a conversation with the lady behind the first window, and I told her an abbreviated version of my own DQ story.  It turns out she has worked there more than 20 years and she's married to the son of the original store's owners.  Because the franchise is still in the family, they are able to keep the old exterior mostly intact and they still have the old sign on the roof.  She explained that International DQ doesn't really like the old style stores, but because this one operates under the original franchise agreement, the family can't be forced to "modernize".  Now I know there are many of us who like the mid-century styling so much that we might drive hours to buy a product FROM THAT OLD STORE!!! HELLO International DQ!  HELLO!  Why not embrace the past and keep the last few remnants intact.  People care about this stuff.

Anyway, I really enjoyed talking to her about the details of the building and the amazing fact that the same family still owns it!

It was really great to see some of the original old signs inside and out, and make my purchase outside at a window much like Mom and Dad's store was once.  The hot fudge sundae was just the way I remembered it, but somehow it tasted better there.

Oh, and I have to add that whenever I'm somewhere that has a "serve yourself" soft serve machine, I can't resist flicking the old wrist and putting the signature "curl on top" of a cone or sundae.  I've still got the touch. ;-)

Now I have to ask, do any of you readers have an original-style Dairy Queen near you?