Union Ave. Dairy Queen Flattened, new DQ/Orange Julius will open in February

If crocus are the first sign of Spring in the Lakes Region, the Dairy Queen on Union Avenue probably ties for the honor. The soft-serve institution that first opened in 1964 is also just about the last holdout in the fall, often not really closing for the winter until Columbus Day.

This year it was different. Many folks were absolutely shocked that the doors were locked the day after Labor Day. For those for whom Dairy Queen is more than just a summer pastime, the future looks bright, however. A new Dairy Queen/Orange Julius will be opening early next Spring.

Early yesterday morning, the demolition and site work crew from Adrian Construction of Holderness, which is working under the supervision of Conneston Construction, Inc., of Gilford, flattened what has been a commercial icon on Union Avenue for the past 45 years. It seemed like it took them only a matter of minutes to get the job done.

Long time employees Jeff Breault, a senior at Laconia High School, and Kelsey Sewell, a student at NH Technical Institute in Concord, were on hand to cheer as their former cramped working space was crushed.

Owner Mike Merrill ended this season early to ensure that the site work and exterior construction would be completed before the snow flies this year. He plans to open as early in 2010 as he can, hopefully by the end of February.

The new store will have a colonial exterior appearance, a look that is different for Dairy Queen. However, Merrill believes it will fit in with the preservation of the historic Victorian Hathaway House next door. It should also be compatible with the similar architectural look of the new Dunkin Donuts now under construction between the Hathaway House and Trustworthy Hardware.

According to Merrill, the Orange Julius line of products will be featured in the new Dairy Queen. “We will be one of the first Orange Julius outlets outside of a mall food court.” he said.

The new Dairy Queen/Orange Julius building’s long side will face the street, leaving more room to accommodate the new drive-thru service in the rear of the structure and reorganized parking for those who want to use the window service.