ROCHESTER — Blizzards are in the forecast for Rochester this summer as a new family plans to reopen the iconic Dairy Queen on North Broadway.
The Spratte family, which operated
Minnesota’s first Dairy Queen
in Rochester for 77 years, handed the keys over to Nels and Nicole Pierson this week and started showing them how to use the ice cream equipment.
While the ink isn’t dry on the deal, the Piersons are optimistic that the seasonal Dairy Queen will reopen this summer. The classic 600-square-foot ice cream shop at 538 N. Broadway Ave. was closed throughout the summer of 2024, when
the third-generation of the Sprattes retired
and put the business up for sale.
“The condition of the property and the equipment is all intact and in place. We think we can get it up and running soon to reopen this summer,” said Nels Pierson.
Ice cream is a new world for Nels Pierson, a former four-term state representative, and Nicole Pierson, a well-known local architect. However, the Piersons, who have five children, are excited to run the Dairy Queen as a family business.
Post Bulletin file photo
“Some of our children work in food service and are of an age to help us out with this project. I hope it will become a family enterprise that we can pass on to the future generations,” said Nels Pierson about the transition.
He added that the popularity of the business and the economic growth in the Lowertown neighborhood also attracted them to the project.
The history of the business is notable for Dairy Queen and Rochester.
The Spratte family started serving up ice cream on North Broadway Avenue in 1947, just seven years after the first DQ opened in Illinois. Leroy and Leona Spratte sold their grocery store in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to open the Rochester Dairy Queen and start selling soft serve at 602 N. Broadway.
In 1955, the year that the Dilly Bar was introduced, they built a new location for the shop and moved the business to 538 N. Broadway. The Sprattes’ son, Bob Spratte, later took over the seasonal business. He handed it off to his son, Tim Spratte, in 1996 and he operated it with his sister Diana.
Once the Sprattes decided to put the business up for sale in 2024, there was a lot of interest, but no one stepped in right away.
“I kept asking, why isn’t anyone buying that? And everyone would just say, ‘Well, it’s a lot of hard work,’” said Nels Pierson. “If there’s one thing I think our family is known for, it’s hard work. So we’re excited for the opportunity.”
Contributed
