Dairy Queen paving way for bigger parking lot

Dec 6, 2017 | 1:00 PM

North Battleford’s Dairy Queen Grill and Chill Restaurant is taking the “out with the old, in with the new” adage seriously to start off the new year. 

The local business demolished its old vacant store Tuesday, and plans to replace it with more parking lot stalls for customers.  

Jennifer Burnett, who co-owns the restaurant with her husband Terry, said they moved into the new store site at 1691-100 St., next to the old building, exactly a year ago.

However, parking is limited off to the side of the business since the new location also has a drive through, so they decided to knock down the former vacant structure to make more room. 

“It’s pretty tight the parking lot right now as it is,” said Burnett “That was kind of always our plan. Eventually in the future we can maybe reconfigure the drive-through to make it a little better, and [create] more parking.

She added hopefully there will be enough space for standard vehicles, as well as buses and campers with customers accessing the restaurant.

Now that the old building has been removed, she and Terry will be able to infill the lot, and add clay and gravel for now. They are looking at paving it in the spring time.

Burnett said people have been asking about the old site which has been there since the ’70s.

“They agree we need a better parking situation so I think it will be good,” she said.

Burnett added while she is aware of the city’s disincentive program – resulting in higher property taxes on commercial buildings in the commercial corridor that have been vacant for more than two years – she said she and her husband always planned to tear down the old building since they are still paying property taxes as well as power and water on the old site. 

However, Burnett said knowing the disincentive program was looming around the corner did encourage them to act on their plans a little sooner.

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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