Hillsdale residents have access to a new, year-round ice cream shop with the opening of the new Grill & Chill Dairy Queen.
The new location, which opened on Halloween, is at 3285 W. Carleton Road. The restaurant carries all the Dairy Queen classics: blizzards, ice cream cakes, cheeseburgers, chicken strips, and even limited edition frozen hot chocolate.
Juniors Cate Kelley and Emma Cruga attended the grand opening together and said they were excited to dine at the restaurant.
“We went because it’s an exciting new ice cream and food option. It was very busy but the service was good,” Kelley said. “We got twist cones with sprinkles — those were great.”
Todd Haidous owns the store, which is his third Dairy Queen location in Michigan.
“I’ve always admired the Dairy Queen brand for its timeless community appeal, delicious food, and family-centered business model that continues to draw in people of all ages year-round,” Haidous said. “Following the incredible response of our other Michigan locations in Dearborn and Coldwater, we’re honored to be growing alongside DQ and can’t wait to open our doors in Hillsdale.”
As a promotional giveaway, the restaurant gave free candy to all guests to celebrate its grand opening along with the holiday. The opening attracted lines of people, including many college students.
Kelley said the owner greeted the pair when they walked in, talked to them, and welcomed them to the restaurant, which she said created a different atmosphere than other fast-food places in Hillsdale.
“I will definitely be going back,” she said. “This time, to get a Blizzard.”
The Udder Side, a well-known family ice cream restaurant in Jonesville, closed for the winter last week. The new Dairy Queen is now one of the area’s only specialized ice cream restaurants open year-round.
Like the location in Coldwater, every item in the Hillsdale restaurant’s “Take DQ Home” case is discounted by 50% on Tuesdays. The case holds ice cream bars, cakes, ice cream cones, and pies.
Senior Nathan Breuhan celebrated his 22nd birthday on Sunday. When his friends surprised him with an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen, he was ecstatic.
“It was a vanilla, Oreo, and chocolate cake. It made me feel like I was back at home,” Breuhan said. “It was an honor to support my community and have my community support me on such a special day.”
The modern restaurant features 14 tables inside and seven tables outside, a state-of-the art beverage dispenser, and a mobile order option. Guests can submit a mobile order through the Dairy Queen mobile app.
Hillsdale’s Dairy Queen restaurant is open 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily.
