Historic Moorhead Dairy Queen Opens March 1st for 77th Year of Business

The time-honored tradition goes on regardless of weather - but temperatures in the mid-teens are mild compared to some the restaurant has faced in the past.

MOORHEAD, MN (KVRR) – Even though the operation looks seamless from the outside, it takes a lot of work to get the historic Moorhead Dairy Queen prepared for its annual opening.

“Basically two weeks ago is when we started,” explained owner Troy DeLeon. “We start with soft serve, and we start making dilly bars, because we have to make them, freeze them down, dip them, freeze them down, bag them up.”

That’s just part of the process Troy and his wife Diane agreed to back in 1995 when they bought the business from the original owners.

77 years from the restaurant’s founding, they’re still going strong – and the March 1st opening day tradition remains unchanged.

“What other business can say that they do this every year? It’s pretty cool,” said Troy.

The line remained steady from the 10 A.M. opening despite temperatures in the teens – likely because, subconsciously, folks know how much effort goes into the product.

Through it all, the DeLeons remain grateful, knowing they can continue to operate this way because the community will show up for them year in and year out.

And, no matter the weather, attendance remains consistent on DQ’s opening day, as the restaurant estimates they get about 1,200 customers on March 1st each year.