Beloved ice cream franchise closing 46 locations nationwide — with one state hit hardest

America’s love affair with the Blizzard is on ice.

Since early 2025, Dairy Queen has been in a franchise meltdown, closing at least 46 locations nationwide, with Texas taking the biggest hit after the chain operator, Project Lonestar, refused to renovate its restaurants, which got them iced out of the DQ family. Between February and March alone, 42 Texas locations shut down, leaving Lone Star cravers to fend for themselves. (Or finally try a McFlurry.)

In Alaska, three DQ locations in Anchorage, Wasilla and Palmer all shuttered at the start of July, leaving the 49th state with just one Blizzard maker left, according to the Anchorage Daily News. The lone location is in Soldotna, a small city with just 4,332 residents and 200 protected acres for bears, moose, caribou and wild sheep.

Meanwhile in Great Falls, Montana, a Dairy Queen that’s been open for 39 years chose to go dark on June 13 after nearly four decades. There’s no use crying over a spilled milkshake, though. The DQ owner, Steve Galloway, is pivoting to a fast casual Mediterranean restaurant instead.

The closures come as Americans are feeling the chill at drive-thru windows nationwide. Prices for food away from home have jumped 3.5% over the past year, according to federal data, making budget-conscious customers think twice before splurging on a Peanut Buster Parfait.

Considered one of the pioneers of soft serve ice cream, Dairy Queen was founded in 1940 in Illinois before getting acquired by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway in 1998. Today, it boasts roughly 7,800 locations in over 20 countries. And though the mainland is losing some Blizzard hotspots, the chain is reportedly plotting an expansion into Puerto Rico with 20 new “Grill & Chill” spots in the tropical U.S. territory.

To coax customers into its ice cream palace, Dairy Queen has made new Blizzard flavors like strawberry-mango mochi and Mexican hot chocolate. There have also been co-branded lip balms and pajamas featuring its breakfast line, plus a new partnership with the exhibition baseball team The Savannah Bananas, “bringing flips, fun and free shakes” to various ballparks. On social media, DQ is often heart-ed because of its “pup cups,” an off-menu frozen dog treat that’s usually free with purchase.

For those who still have a DQ in their midst, free Dilly Bars (vanilla ice cream surrounded by a frozen chocolate shell) are available for DQ Rewards members from July 13-19. The promotion marks National Ice Cream Day on July 19.

Alas, for Alaskans, the Blizzard warning still stands.

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