Dairy Queen has closed at least 46 locations nationwide since early 2025, with Texas experiencing the most closures. The chain operator in Texas, Project Lonestar, reportedly refused to renovate its restaurants, leading to its removal from the Dairy Queen family and the shutdown of 42 locations in the state between February and March.
In Alaska, three Dairy Queen locations in Anchorage, Wasilla, and Palmer ceased operations at the beginning of July. This leaves only one Dairy Queen in the state, located in Soldotna.
Another closure occurred in Great Falls, Montana, where a Dairy Queen that had been in operation for 39 years closed its doors on June 13. The owner, Steve Galloway, plans to open a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant in its place.
The closures come amid a national trend of rising food prices away from home, which have increased by 3.5% over the past year, according to federal data. This makes consumers more hesitant about discretionary spending on treats.
Dairy Queen, founded in 1940 and acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 1998, operates approximately 7,800 locations in over 20 countries. Despite some domestic closures, the company is reportedly planning an expansion into Puerto Rico with 20 new "Grill & Chill" locations.
In an effort to attract customers, Dairy Queen has introduced new Blizzard flavors and engaged in co-branding partnerships, including with lip balm brands and The Savannah Bananas exhibition baseball team. The chain also offers "pup cups"—a treat for dogs—which are often provided free of charge. Additionally, Dairy Queen Rewards members can receive free Dilly Bars from July 13-19 to celebrate National Ice Cream Day.