| Eateries |
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| DAIRY QUEEN (page 1) |
| The first Dairy Queen opened in 1940 in Joliet, IL, serving only soft-serve ice cream. By 1947, there were about 100 stores. By 1955, there were 2,600. Today, there are more than 5,900 DQs worldwide. In the early 1950s, Dairy Queen developed its slanted roof, rounded corners walk-up building with the classic tilted cone sign. In 1960, the company dropped this design for its barn-like building. For more about Dairy Queen, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Dairy Queen Charlotte, NC |
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| This Charlotte Dairy Queen was built in 1947. It is the oldest location left in NC and the third oldest in the Southeast. The awnings are original or close to it. The two-piece, original rooftop Eskimo sign has been repainted. The person (most sources say "girl") depicted on this sign is more realistic than the original signs. See the other Eskimo signs in Quincy, MA and Grafton, WV below which are also not as "goofy" as the original. For more, see these websites: this website. |
| Dairy Queen Charlotte, NC |
Dairy Queen Gastonia, NC |
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This Charlotte Dairy Queen opened in 1950. The signs are obviously modern. This location probably had an Eskimo sign. For more, see this website.
This Gastonia Dairy Queen opened in 1949. The neon is not original. This location did have an Eskimo sign originally. For more, see this website. |
| Dairy Freeze Quincy, MA |
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| This Dairy Freeze must have originally been a Dairy Queen. The sign is either a repainted original from the early 1950s or a modern reproduction. |
| Dairy Queen Grafton, WV |
Circus Conies & Cones Seelyville, IN |
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The Grafton Dairy Queen also has an Eskimo sign. The style of this one matches the one in Quincy, MA shown above. The shape of the sign, particularly the ice cream cone, makes me think that both of these signs are modern reproductions. The originals also seem to have been larger and with two separate signs on a triangulated, rooftop display. However, a very similar sign that was in Wilmington, NC makes me wonder if there weren't two or more versions of these Eskimo signs. The original "goofy" sign in Gastonia looked like this. Another example of the Eskimo is here.
All that remains of Circus Conies & Cones is this sign. It was originally a 1950s Dairy Queen Curly the Clown sign. The cup label originally read "Dairy Queen' and there were strawberries, not syrup, on the ice cream. To notify passing motorists when the store was open, the clown's arm moved up and down and the light behind the cone in his hand was turned on. There was another one of these signs in Richland, MO (now gone). Another still exists in Evansville, IN. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Dairy Queen Pawcatuck, CT |
Dairy Queen Riverside, CA |
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The Pawcatuck Dairy Queen has been here since 1954.
The Riverside Dairy Queen is from the 1950s. It sounds like their "sister" location in town from the same era will be demolished, if it hasn't been already. For more, see this website. |
| Dairy Queen Janesville, WI |
Dairy Queen Butler, PA |
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This sign in Janesville appears to be old while the building itself seems to be modern (not the slant-roofed stand).
The Butler Dairy Queen looks like an oldie. |
| Dairy Queen Perryopolis, PA |
Dairy Queen Carbondale, IL |
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The Perryopolis Dairy Queen was built in 1963. The roof sign is from 1953, brought from an older location in Masontown, PA. For more, see their website.
The Cardondale Dairy Queen opened in 1952. For more, see this website. |
| Dairy Queen Buckhannon, WV |
Dairy Queen Lombard, IL |
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| Dairy Queen Shelbyville, IN |
Dairy Queen Janesville, MN |
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The Buckhannon, Lombard, and Shelbyville DQs look to be from the late 1950s or early 1960s. For more, see this website.
This Janesville DQ features an intact rooftop sign while the stand has been updated. |
| Dairy Queen New Smyrna Beach, FL |
Dairy Queen Minneapolis, MN |
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The New Smyrna Beach DQ features an old rooftop sign as well as a later freestanding pole sign. The rooftop sign was refurbished sometime after 2007. There is now only a singular "DQ" on the cone. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
This Minneapolis DQ has been here since 1957 or 1960 (conflicting sources). The signage has been updated to reflect its partnership with Orange Julius. The vintage rooftop sign remains. |
| Dairy Queen Worthington, OH |
Dairy Queen Paxton, IL |
Dairy Queen Saskatoon, SK |
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This Worthington DQ sign was most likely installed on the roof originally before being moved to poles in front of the building. This sign is lit at night. For more, see this website.
This Paxton DQ sign is now missing its neon and is painted a lighter shade of blue. This sign and the ones in Worthington and Minneapolis above do not have the curved piece at the back. All three of the cones are larger and do not have the circles behind them. There is also no horizontal line. I assume that these signs were a later design. The Saskatoon DQ appears to be from the 1950s. There was probably a rooftop sign originally. This sign appears to be from the 1960s. [photo thanks Elissa H.] |
| Dairy Crest Springfield, OH |
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| This Dairy Crest was originally a Dairy Queen. Around 1952, it broke away from the chain and changed its name and sign. The first photo was taken 2003; the second in 2009. |
| Edd's Drive-in Pascagoula, MS |
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| Edd's Drive-in opened in 1953. I assume this was originally a Dairy Queen from the style of the rooftop sign. For more, see this website. |
| former Dairy Queen Tampa, FL |
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| This Tampa Dairy Queen sign has been adapted by Sooo Good Southern Barbeque. |
| Dairy Queen Huntington, IN |
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| This Huntington Dairy Queen sign features a sundae instead of a cone. I don't know if this was an option or a later change. I have never seen another sign like this one. It does appear to be original and untampered with. The sign is lit at night. For more, see this website. |
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