Mauldin Dairy Queen Set to Open Next Week

Summer Hardy of Mauldin is a huge Dairy Queen fan, who fondly remembers trips for ice cream with her mother and big sister when she was a child. She's been waiting months for the new DQ at 112 North Main Street to open.

"The wait has been riDQulous," she giggled.

For Hardy, and many others in Mauldin who have been waiting for the venerated fast-food eatery to open, the wait is almost over.

The shop, which replaces the city's old Burger King franchise, will open its doors Feb. 19 at 10:30 a.m., said co-manager Keri Sanders.

Hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

Sanders and co-manager Emily Banks said there has been a clamor for the shop's opening for a while now. 

"We've had lots of people coming by everyday," Banks said. 

"There's been some unhappy people, but we just had to tell them we're sorry," said Sanders, who estimates the DQ gets upwards of 200 people each day pulling in to inquire if it's open.

When it does open, it will be the latest in DQ's new line of restaurants. The DQ "Grill & Chill" is unlike DQ's of old that simply peddled ice cream, cakes, and the standard burgers and fries.

The Grill & Chill food menu features the quarter- and half-pound GrillBurger made to order, as well as an expanded menu that includes deli-style iron grilled sandwiches. Other menu offerings include grilled or crispy chicken sandwiches and salads; chicken strip baskets; shrimp baskets; quesadillas and chili cheese dogs.

In addition, the restaurant will feature a full line of Orange Julius fruit drinks and smoothies.

Are you looking forward to the new DQ? Tell us about it in the comment section below.