All-New Dairy Queen Restaurant Now Open in Metro Phoenix

A classic burger and ice cream restaurant has opened.Photo byHamZa NOUASRIAonUnsplash

Whether you’re a lover of the classic blizzard ice cream snack, or you’re more of a burger fan, Dairy Queen has been satisfying customers since its original location opened nearly 90 years ago. The chain has been around the block a few times, with various renditions and branding changes. DQ: Orange Julius once dominated malls and indoor shopping centers, though that concept isn’t the trendy beverage destination it once was. Now, the latest name branding is DQ Grill & Chill. Signaling you’ll be able to enjoy both ice cream snacks and grilled, hot meals, a new DQ Grill and Chill has officially opened in Mesa. 

The very first Dairy Queen opened in Illinois all the way back in 1940. This pre-dates most other major fast food chains in the country by a solid decade (at least). The original location eventually closed down the following decade, and the father and son duo who launched the original decided to expand via franchise. Franchising is what has helped Dairy Queen become the popular destination it now is, as there are over 4,000 DQ locations (of some variation) scattered around the United States and another 6,000 in other pockets of the world.

Speaking of Orange Julius, DQ bought out the Orange Julius brand in the late 1980s. As for the Grill & Chill branding, this didn’t take effect until the end of 2016. Restaurants that offered more than just the blizzards and other iced creams often used the slogan “Hot Eats, Cool Treats” to signify you could find both hot and cold items inside of the store. However, the brand’s marketing department thought the phrase was a bit too long-winded, and as such opted to go for the shorter “Grill & Chill,” tagline. 

Now, all new restaurants that offer hot and cold food use the DQ Grill and Chill naming, including the brand-new Mesa restaurant. Located at 1310 East McKellips Road in Mesa, this is the latest addition to the chain in the Valley. 

If you are interested in stopping by for a burger, or you’ve been craving a frozen blizzard for your drive home, the all-new Mesa location is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 AM until 10 PM, and from Friday and Saturday from 10 AM until midnight. Special autumn flavors are currently available, and you can either order directly at the store, or you can pre-order on the DQ app so it’s ready when you arrive. It also allows you to earn points and rewards for future purchases.