Blizzards For A Year

FARMINGTON — With the incentive to receive 52 free Dairy Queen blizzards for the next year, customers were lined up around the new DQ Grill & Chill on Monday morning, waiting for the doors to open.

First in line were three women and two kids, who camped out overnight so that they would be at the front of the line. They backed their truck into the first parking space at 10 p.m. Sunday and brought music, blankets and pillows to be comfortable throughout the night.

“I’m excited,” said April Pettay of Farmington. “I only live 1.1 miles away. I’ll be here all the time.”

She said the last time she visited a DQ restaurant was about 10 years ago.

The new Dairy Queen is located at 301 W. Main St., in Farmington, on the corner of Double Springs Road and Main Street.

Regina Reed of West Fork said her favorite blizzard is cotton candy, though it is only served during select months. When Reed left work in Fayetteville on Sunday night, she headed straight to Dairy Queen to get in line.

Tonya Bryant homeschools her children, Shai and Camryn, and turned the overnight waiting time into an educational activity, she said.

“I’m super excited. We’re here for the fun,” Bryant said.

Cheryl Zotti, co- owner of the business along with Tom and Kendra Smith, said Farmington’s store will serve as the trademark store for future DQ restaurants in northwest Arkansas.

“We couldn’t be more pleased for this to be our first choice,” Zotti said. “This is our launch plan for future stores.”

She expressed her appreciation to city staff, police and the fire department for their support.

Dairy Queen hired 73 employees and 75 percent of them are from Farmington, Zotti said. The store is hiring off-duty Farmington police officers to help with traffic during the grand opening and she said managers believe they have a good traffic plan for ingress and egress.

In addition, she said the restaurant was designed to meet the needs of students who are expected to come by after school is out each day. The store installed a wide sidewalk along Double Springs next to the business and did not plant any shrubs or grass so that the street could be clearly seen by students. The restaurant also has an outside patio geared for student customers.

“We think this corner is just perfect for us,” Zotti said.

Farmington Mayor Ernie Penn said the new Dairy Queen will be an asset to the city.

“We think it will bring a lot of people from different cities on a regular basis,” Penn said.

“They will spend their tax dollars with us and we are looking forward to that. It will boost our local revenues.”

Looking around, Penn said, “I love it. It’s going to be a beautiful addition to our city.”

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Cheryl Zotti, one of the owners of DQ Grill & Chill in Farmington, cuts the ribbon during the restaurant’s grand opening Monday morning. DQ is the newest member of Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber members, city representatives and others...

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER The inside of the new Dairy Queen in Farmington before it opens to its first customers of the day.

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER These ladies showed up at 10 p.m. Sunday night to make sure they would be first in line for free Dairy Queen blizzards for the next year. For its grand opening, DQ offered free weekly blizzards with the purchase of an ice cream cake to the first 100...