DQ Grill & Chill | Gardner, KS

Dairy Queen, often abbreviated DQ, is a chain of soft serve ice cream and fast-food restaurants owned by International Dairy Queen, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. International Dairy Queen, Inc., also owns Orange Julius and Karmelkorn. DQ Grill & Chill locations feature hot food, treats, table delivery and self-serve soft drinks. It is the new concept for new and renovated full-service restaurants. Stores are larger than older-style locations and feature a completely new store design. In most cases, they offer an expanded menu including breakfast, Grill Burgers, and grilled sandwiches, as well as limited table service (customers still place orders at the counter). Since 1940, the chain has used a franchise system to expand its operations globally. International Dairy Queen, Inc.(IDQ) is the parent company of Dairy Queen. In the United States, it operates under American Dairy Queen Corp. Dairy Queen reported over 6,400 stores in more than 25 countries; about 4,500 of its stores (approximately 70%) were located in the United States. DQ was an early pioneer of food franchising, expanding its 10 stores in 1941 to 100 by 1947, 1,446 in 1950, and 2,600 in 1955. The first store in Canada opened in Climax, Saskatchewan, in 1953.