Clarendon Dairy Queen shuts down

Clarendon lost its “Texas Stop Sign” Monday morning when the local Dairy Queen closed its doors after more than 40 years in business here.

Franchise owner Vasari LLC surprised several area Panhandle towns in October when it shuttered 22 Dairy Queen stores as it began bankruptcy proceedings.

A spokesman said at the time, no decision had been made about the Clarendon store or other locations but said that others might close within 90 days. The Enterprise attempted Monday to contact the spokesman, Whitney Albert, but that person’s firm no longer represents Vasari. No statement was available Tuesday afternoon from the franchise holder.

Workers spent the day Monday clearing out the Dairy Queen building and would only say the business was shut down and that no one on the property could comment further.

Clarendon’s Dairy Queen opened January 7, 1975, with a seating capacity of 56 where the Texas DPS office is now located at US 287 and Allen Street.

Just over 11 years later, on August 28, 1986, the franchise moved to its present location, with a much larger dining room capable of seating 102 and outdoor playground. The new Dairy Queen donated its first day’s revenue to the Saints’ Roost Museum and added a full breakfast menu at that time. Over the years, the breakfast menu disappeared and the playground was removed.

Among the area Dairy Queens that have been closed as part of Vasari’s bankruptcy filing are stores in Shamrock, Perryton, Dumas, Wellington, and Claude.