The wait is over ... for Blizzards, more

ST. MARYS - After years of being just a treat shop under its previous ownership, Dairy Queen is coming back to St. Marys in a big way next month, as a full-service Grill & Chill restaurant.

Father and son Bobby and Meet Patel, along with lifelong friend turned business partner Andy Patel, will soon open up the new spot as local, independent franchisees. A fourth business partner, Jay Patel, will oversee the restaurant's day-to-day operations.

The partners also own and operate Dairy Queens in Bryan, Fremont and New Bremen. They owned and operated the Wapakoneta store for years before selling in it September of 2023.

Meet Patel, a 2020 graduate of Wapakoneta High School, said he hopes the modern restaurant will help to attract more developments in town.

"We knew that there was a Dairy Queen here in St. Marys, and we wanted to modernize it," he said.

The upgrade was long over due.

The national chain began to expand its menu to include fast foods like hamburgers, chicken tenders and grilled sandwiches, in late 2001. St. Marys' old DQ location, owned by Joyce and Larry Kellermeyer and located at 1240 Celina Road, never switched to the new format and was selling just ice cream and a few additional offerings like hotdogs until its closure last spring.

Andy Patel, of Mason, said he was introduced to the brand by Bobby, and after some research, quickly got into the business.

"Let's put it this way, we're all ice cream people," he said. "We have our own custom ice cream (orders) that we get."

Off the regular menu, Bobby prefers the Reese's Cup Blizzard, Andy likes Oreo and Meet favors Brownie Batter.

While they were operating the Wapakoneta store nearby, they got to know the Kellermeyers in St. Marys, became close with them, and eventually worked out a deal to take over and modernize the St. Marys restaurant, along with the New Bremen Dairy Queen, which the Kellermeyers also previously owned.

"They are really both wonderful people and we highly respect them," Andy said. "They've helped us a lot with the city and (with) every step we needed to move ahead with this project. They were very helpful. Also, I appreciate the city's engineering department and the mayor. Every time we needed something we would contact them. They were very helpful and very welcoming."

Beyond its famous Blizzards, Orange Julius drinks, Dilly Bars and ice cream sundaes, the business will feature a full Dairy Queen food menu of burgers and sandwiches, chicken tenders, and sides like cheese curds, salads, onion rings and pretzel sticks.

They will also offer DQ Cakes, which, in addition to a menu of basic ice cream cake flavors, includes custom cake orders.

To efficiently run the store, the trio plans to hire about 25 to 30 employees.

"The reason to employ that many people is to try to serve the community in a faster, and a more effective and efficient way," Meet said.

While the store is still technically under construction as they await some equipment deliveries, they're planning to open up sometime in February, Meet said.

"I'm looking forward to working with the community," Andy added. "(I'm looking forward) to serving the community and working together."

The owners will also welcome feedback in the restaurant's first days open.

"I would like the community to participate in the survey (that will be on the bottom of their receipt)," Bobby said. "Please let us know (if you have a) bad or good experience too, that way we can, every day, get better and better."

The St. Marys Dairy Queen Grill & Chill is located on Fortman Drive between Edward Jones and O'Reilly Auto Parts. For updates or information about employment, go to the St. Marys Dairy Queen Grill & Chill Facebook page.