Dairy Queen

[megax11]

Why can't we have Dairy Queen back in OKC?

I miss that place, and I don't feel like driving to Chickasha for a Blizzard. McDonald's have bootleg Blizzards.

The new Dairy Queen on NW Penn and about 146th is open now.

[okcisok]

Oh, I am right there with you!! Blizzards are the best. I like Sonic but nothing comes close to a Blizzard. Or a dipped cone. Or a Dilly Bar. yummy

[Debzkidz]

Oh wow, I would love a dipped cone!!!!

[adaniel]

Dairy Queens got "Sonic"ed right out of the state. Its the same way in all bordering states too, sadly.

I'm always willing to support an Oklahoma based-company but nothing comes close to the bliss from a Oreo Blizzard on a hot summer day.

[Achilleslastand]

Because people here for some strange reason go gaga over Sonic. Sonic on a good day is merely average. I want my DQ back as well as taco-tico.

[flintysooner]

http://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/own-a-dq/

[dmoor82]

Not just The Blizzard's DQ also had Awesome burgers as well!

[bucktalk]

Oh wow, I would love a dipped cone!!!!

You can get dip cones at Johnnies Burgers....but you have to share....

[JayhawkTransplant]

YES. Braum's ice cream is great, but I grew up on DQ blizzards and miss them dearly.

It's funny that it's been mentioned that Sonic drove them out--I hadn't thought of that. In Kansas, Sonic and Dairy Queen co-exist peacefully...and yes, Kansans love their Sonics.

[Doug Loudenback]

My wife and I love a Dairy Queen cone and have driven to Chickasha to get one. I hope that it will return to Okc.

[Larry OKC]

Really bugs me every time I see their commercials on TV since they aren't here!

Many places (not just McDonald's have their version of the Blizzard (Sonic, Braums etc). There are some McDonald's where you can get a dipped cone too.

We used to have plenty of DQs and then they slowly closed. A few years ago there were a couple of new ones built but think they are gone as well (Edmond, near the college) and Mid-Del (think it was over on the north/south street at the intersection where Wal-Mart & Target used to be).

Good to know there is one in Chickasha, thought you had to go all the way to Texas!

[Dustin]

Did Sonic run out Burger King too? I can't find a damn BK anywhere in this state..

[ljbab728]

Did Sonic run out Burger King too? I can't find a damn BK anywhere in this state..

There are 10 Burger King locations in OKC area with 9 of those being on the south side.

[metro]

Shoot, you can get a food dipped cne anywhere.....Tim's, Lions Choice and McDonalds come ro mind, I also think Freddie does too.

[Larry OKC]

Burger Kings are scarcer than they used to be but they do still exist (same with Grandys, Furrs, Dennys, Del Rancho, Big Eds etc)

[megax11]

My wife and I love a Dairy Queen cone and have driven to Chickasha to get one. I hope that it will return to Okc.

You know, I thought that with the cities economy doing better than other states, mixed with the Thunder's arrival in the city, and the city just growing overall, that DQ would come back, as well as Jack in the Box.

We got Jack in the Box. Now we need DQ back and this city will be golden.

I have driven to Chickasha as well for a Blizzard, but man, who wouldn't like to drive a few miles in this city, plus have that franchise again in our beloved city?

To the person who mentioned Taco-Tico. I hear they still have one in Shawnee. My mother goes there sometimes, when she goes to Firelake, but she said their burritos don't taste the same as they did back in the 80's.

Still though, it would be nice to see as many franchises here in OKC as possible, as that's more money for the city, plus more options for food selection.

[Sara Belle]

Tulsa has a Orange Julius / Dairy Queen combo in Woodland Hills Mall

[Achilleslastand]

You know, I thought that with the cities economy doing better than other states, mixed with the Thunder's arrival in the city, and the city just growing overall, that DQ would come back, as well as Jack in the Box.

We got Jack in the Box. Now we need DQ back and this city will be golden.

I have driven to Chickasha as well for a Blizzard, but man, who wouldn't like to drive a few miles in this city, plus have that franchise again in our beloved city?

To the person who mentioned Taco-Tico. I hear they still have one in Shawnee. My mother goes there sometimes, when she goes to Firelake, but she said their burritos don't taste the same as they did back in the 80's.

Still though, it would be nice to see as many franchises here in OKC as possible, as that's more money for the city, plus more options for food selection.

Yep there is a taco tico in shawnee and tastewise it dosnt even resemble the way they used to be.

[OKCTalker]

Reason that Dairy Queen went out of business in central Oklahoma: Charlie Dunn was the long-time franchisee for local DQs (readers here "of a certain age" will remember "Dunn's Dairy Queen"). In the late-1980s, Dunn was looking for a way to sell out and retire, but no-one would pay his stratospheric price. Enter a young and very charismatic Daniel K. Borgen of Houston. He contracted with Dunn to pay the asking price, but only if Dunn would finance the no-money-down purchase, which he did. Under Borgen's control, he immediately stopped paying vendors and landlords (and employees occasionally), and funneled cash into exempt Texas trust accounts for his two young children. Dunn sued for breach, and the morning of the hearing Borgen took the company into bankruptcy, further delaying Dunn from regaining control, and vendors and landlords from suing for monetary damages. The landlords were also prevented from evicting him under bankruptcy protection. The court returned control of the company to Dunn, but by this time it had no cash, no receivables, no customes, no vendors, no leases and few employees. Charlie tried to resurrect it, but he was by then an old and financially-ruined man, and it didn't work. Other, smaller franchisees tried to make a go in central Oklahoma, but none succeeded. I served as landlord representative to the bankruptcy court, and owned several locations that were leased to DDQ.

McDonald's succeeds nationally (and internationally) for the same reason that DQ does not: Consistency. Say what you will about quality, but a Big Mac tastes the same whether you're in OKC, Moscow, Melbourne or Venice. You can't say the same about DQ products from differing franchisees even in the same city. They are notoriously independent, even to the point of suing Warren Buffet who bought DQ years ago with the hope of turning this company around as he had done on scores of other occasions. His goal: Introduce consistency. Their response: Go fly a kite. The result: No growth and miniscule market share.

[kevinpate]

Interesting OKCTalker, and info I wasn't aware of. Except that part about DQ folk being independent. The owner of the small town DQ where I grew up lived near me. Independent nature doesn't even begin to describe that fellow, lol.

As for McD's, I know they strive to hit the consistency you reference, and probably do the vast majority of the time. But it's not always there. When I worked on the south side of the city, there always seemed, to me at least, a notable difference in the quality of the unit off SE 66th/I-35 N frontage compared to SE44th/Shields. The former generally was better for lunch/evening fare and the latter seemed to have its act together better for the breakfast menu.

Noticing this was what told me I was probably popping in (way) too often at McD's.

[Larry OKC]

Thanks OKCTalker for the info!

As a former Mickey D's employee for Company owned and Owner/Operator (franchised) stores, there may be differences from time to time, but rest assured Corporate kept a fairly tight leash on such things and when it comes to their attention, it isn't allowed to continue for very long. In extreme cases, might even result in the franchisee losing control of the store or pulling their franchise completely.

Other companies are much looser on their franchisees. Taco Bueno didn't franchise for the longest time (citing quality control issues). All of their stores were company owned which lead to slow but steady growth. They finally are allowing it but was told they require any potential franchisee to be able to open at least 10 stores (instead of starting ith 1 nad expanding as it succeeds). They want instant success. Thing is, I can't think of any business that started out big. They all started with a single store and grew. From McDonald's to Wal-Mart, the story is the same.

[Larry OKC]

Good to hear about Orange Julius..that is another company that I miss (thought they didn't exist at all any more).

[Tavia]

There is also a taco tico in Claremore. We were there in April for a dance competition. It was awesome and clean. We have been to Shawnee a few times, to Duncan when one was there and also Elgin. I believe the latter two are closed now. The location in Claremeore was packed with little dancers from OKC and their parents who remembered Taco Tico.

[Jim Kyle]

Last time I was in Quail Springs Mall there was an Orange Julius on the second level. Is it gone now?

[Soonerman]

Theres a Taco Tico in Duncan as well.