‘A slice of culinary Americana.’ The 75-year-old Charlotte Dairy Queen goes up for sale
Another property tied to Charlotte’s history is up for sale — the 75-year-old Dairy Queen on Wilkinson Boulevard.
The half-acre commercial site in West Charlotte was listed for sale late last month for $1.4 million. It’s suitable for “various retail uses,” such as fast food or auto repair, according to online listings.
The location first started serving up ice cream in 1947. It was opened by Preston Aaron and his wife, Irene — two Charlotteans who were “pioneers” in bringing the frozen treat franchise to the city, as The Charlotte Observer reported in 2005.
John Stefano, associate broker for real estate firm EXP Commercial, said Tuesday that the Charlotte company is “getting calls every day” about the property at 2732 Wilkinson Blvd. It’s higher than usual interest for one of the firm’s commercial sites, he said.
Most potential buyers are interesting in keeping the location as a quick-serve restaurant, as opposed to totally redoing the site, he said. Stefano said he wasn’t sure why the owners decided to sell.
The ice cream shop — which is still open seven days a week — is the oldest Dairy Queen in North Carolina.
Charlotte’s Landmark Commission once described it as “a slice of culinary and cultural Americana” for its unique design, although the building is not a designated historic landmark.
The fate of another Charlotte DQ
It’s the second time in recent years that a former Dairy Queen has turned into a valuable piece of Charlotte real estate.
In the fall of 2019, the iconic Plaza Midwood Dairy Queen closed its doors, leaving the walk-up storefront vacant. It had been open since the 1950s.
In 2021, Davidson restaurant owners Joe and Katy Kindred leased and remodeled the Central Avenue building. They reopened it as the second location of Milkbread, a cafe offering donuts, coffee and other bites, this month.
This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 3:32 PM.
