Some students have already been buzzing about the restaurants Slim Chickens and Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers opening in Searcy later this year, but they may not know about the new partnership that takes the cake. Dairy Queen is in the process of opening a brand new location in Searcy this summer.
You Scream Holdings LLC announced that Dairy Queen will partner with the Big Red gas station located on Beebe Capps Expressway and Jimmy Carr Street. This Dairy Queen location will have the full restaurant menu with all of the meals, cakes and Blizzards fans of the restaurant love. Blake Lively, president and owner of You Scream Holdings LLC, said the project has already started, and construction will only take three to four months.
“Every time we have announced a new location, we have always received comments and emails from Searcy fans asking for us to come to the area,” Lively said. “Searcy has always been on our radar, and we have been patiently waiting for the right time to go there. We were so excited when it was Searcy’s turn because we knew we would be welcomed with open arms.”
Some students are eager for Dairy Queen to finish construction before the 2020 fall semester. The announcement came as a big surprise to junior Zane Harris, who said he had no idea that a Dairy Queen was coming to Searcy.
“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is the ice cream,” Harris said. “I love ice cream, and so the thought of having a Dairy Queen employee turning upside down a cup of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and then handing it to me is something I would really enjoy.”
Dairy Queen is best known for its Blizzards, frozen treats made by blending soft serve with mix-ins like candy pieces and cookie dough. The dessert is famously turned upside down when it’s handed to each customer, showing that it’s thick enough to stay in the cup.
Harris said he believes the Dairy Queen addition will boost customer numbers at Big Red. With the edge of campus resting on Beebe Capps, students may be more likely to visit the gas station for a quick bite to eat.
Junior Courtney Mann said she had heard about the new Dairy Queen coming to Searcy but did not realize how close the location would be to campus.
“I already go to Big Red to fuel up, but I will be more tempted to go inside and treat myself on rough days — or even great days — to some Dairy Queen,” Mann said. “I have no doubt that others will have the same thought process … this may be very dangerous for my wallet and health.”
Mann said she normally tries to avoid fast food, but she can’t deny her sweet tooth cravings. She said she’s eager to treat herself to chicken strips and gravy with an Oreo Cheesecake Blizzard on the side.
Lively encouraged students and locals to use their restaurant as a location for both everyday eating and special celebrations of all kinds.
“We want to be the headquarters for celebrations for both college students and the Searcy community,” Lively said. “Whether it is celebrating with your favorite Blizzard, a DQ cake or a chicken strip basket with gravy, we want people to think of DQ when it is time to celebrate. We always want to be a part of the community wherever we are. That is the beauty of being locally owned is that we can be a part of student life in as many ways possible.”
