Dairy Queen opens Monday on Three Springs Drive
WEIRTON — Whether looking for a hamburger, chili dog, or a favorite ice cream treat, Weirton residents aren’t going to have to go far.
Beginning Monday, a new Dairy Queen restaurant will be opening its doors in the city, bringing a full menu of “grill and chill” food items.
On Saturday, the owners of the new franchise welcomed approximately 200 invited guests for an early preview of the restaurant, allowing them to sample some of the menu, including the various ice cream products and sandwiches.
“We have the full menu,” co-owner Umesh Nagpal said.
The restaurant is part of the DQ Grill and Chill concept, featuring hot foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken and more, along with its ice cream, Blizzards, ice cream cakes and other selections. The restaurant also features a drive-through and an outdoor patio area.
Nagpal explained he and co-owner Kawaljit Goraya were contacted about locating in Weirton more than a year ago by former Mayor George Kondik, and began looking at the site at 230 Three Springs Drive, which previously had been the home to a Burger King franchise.
He noted during construction, residents often would stop and tell them stories about their own memories of former Dairy Queen franchises which had been located for years in Weirton. He recalled one woman in particular who told him Dairy Queen had been her first job, approximately 50 years ago.
“Everyone has gone out of their way to make us comfortable,” Nagpal said.
Among those in attendance Saturday, sharing his own memories was current Weirton Mayor Harold Miller, who said he and his wife would go to Dairy Queen on dates in their youth.
“We missed it,” Miller said. “It will be a great asset to the city.”
Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce President Brenda Mull agreed, saying residents have been looking forward the the restaurant’s opening since news broke earlier this year.
“It’s great to have Dairy Queen back in Weirton,” Mull said. “I think the community has missed having one.”
Mull thanked Nagpal, Goraya, as well as Orion Development which owns the property for their work in bringing the project together.
“A lot of people have put a lot of effort into this,” she said.
Nagpal said they initially have hired 40 area residents, with hopes for additional employees later on.
“This town is coming back,” he said.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)
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