Dairy Queen Makes Its Long-Awaited Opening

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung with a staff member at the newly opened Dairy Queen in Cranston.

The first Dairy Queen Grill and Chill in Rhode Island has officially opened after a long winter of construction.

Co-franchisee of the restaurant, Will Dailey said that the delay was mainly caused by the ground freezing before they could lay asphalt.

Regardless, Dailey was excited for the April opening as the weather warmed up and a crowd formed Monday morning waiting to get inside.

The restaurant, which seats 72 patrons and has a drive-through window, has hired three full-time managers and an additional 78 part-time employees to run their operation.

The restaurant is co-franchised by Dailey and his partner Damon Draught, and hope to expand Grill and Chills to other parts of the state in the future.