DAIRY QUEEN/DAIRY WIPT

In 1947, Burton F. Myers bought the first Hennepin County Franchise for Dairy Queen Milk Bars, and opened his first store at 5507 Excelsior Blvd., between old Vernon and Webster, across from the Enga Funeral Home. [The first Dairy Queen opened in Joliet, Ill. in 1940]. This store was run by H.A. “Hap” Pearson and his partner Roy G. Carlson. Someone sold Christmas trees on the lot in the off season.

Soon there was a falling out and in about 1949 Carlson opened two other drive-ins (in one building) called Meal in a Bun and Dari Wipt next door at 5515 Excelsior Blvd. The site had been owned by Lindahl (Lyndale?) Nursery, which built the office/store in 1947. (There is also an ad from 1949 at the 5515 address by an appliance dealer.) From 1961-63 the 5515 building was called Carlson’s Drive In.



Meanwhile, a “new Dairy Queen” was opened at the original location on June 17, 1950. 

The two reportedly had heated disagreements about property lines, etc. The two drive-ins operated until about 1966 when both properties became victim to an on-ramp to the reconstructed Highway 100 in 1967.

A second Dairy Queen opened at 4407 Excelsior Blvd. (at Kipling), with a Grand Opening from April 29-30, 1960. In spring 1961 it was referred to as Bea’s Dairy Queen. That building burned down in 1999.

There are now two Dairy Queens in St. Louis Park: one at 5001 Excelsior Blvd. and another at 1620 Park Place Blvd.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.