Fast-food royalty is coming soon to Deer Lake.
The final details of opening a Dairy Queen outlet in the airport town are still being worked out, but the store’s franchise developer in Montreal has confirmed the development is expected to happen.
According to Eric Rochefort, the Dairy Queen will be one of three businesses that will be part of a development on the site of the old North Atlantic Petroleum gas station on the Trans-Canada Highway in Deer Lake.
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The site is also expected to contain an Orange Store fuel service facility and a Tim Hortons franchise, said Rochefort.
He said Newfoundlanders and Labradorians seem to love Dairy Queen, as other franchises have done quite well there in the 40 years since they’ve had a presence in the province. There used to be a Dairy Queen in Corner Brook, but it closed when the Valley Mall shut down its food court area.
Rochefort said Corner Brook is on the franchise’s radar and he expects it will return when the right real estate is found. Plans are also in the works to open a new store in Gander.
Deer Lake was chosen as the next new site because it speaks to the roots of the franchise, explained Rochefort.
“Small town U.S.A. was where Dairy Queen stores came from and it seems like it does really well in smaller towns,” said Rochefort.
He said the highway location should make it an attraction for travellers as well as local residents.
Rochefort said the Deer Lake franchise is expected to open early next spring and will create around 40 jobs.
