Is Dairy Queen Closing? Which Locations Shut Down in 2025–2026 and Why
Searches for "is Dairy Queen closing" are spiking. Dairy Queen isn't going out of business, but some franchise stores did close. Here is exactly what happened and where.
Short answer: No, Dairy Queen is not going out of business. It has about 7,800 locations in 20+ countries and is owned by Berkshire Hathaway. But at least 46 US stores closed across Texas, Alaska and Montana in 2025 and 2026, mostly because of one franchise owner's dispute with the company.
Which Dairy Queen locations closed?
| Where | How many | When | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas (franchisee Project Lonestar) | About 42 | Early 2025 | Dairy Queen revoked the franchise after required remodels weren't done |
| Alaska (Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer) | 3 | Mid-2026 | The franchise owner closed them; one DQ is left in Alaska, in Soldotna |
| Great Falls, Montana | 1 | Reported July 2026 | The owner retired the DQ after 39 years and is opening a Mediterranean restaurant |
These numbers come from Fox Business and Fast Company reporting in July 2026.
Why did the Texas Dairy Queens close?
The biggest wave was in Texas. Dairy Queen's US parent ended franchisee Project Lonestar's rights after it didn't finish required building remodels. Once it was cut off from ordering official Dairy Queen supplies, the stores had to close right away. Texas still has more than 500 Dairy Queens.
Is Dairy Queen going out of business?
No. Closures like these are franchise-level, not a company shutdown:
- Dairy Queen still has about 7,800 locations worldwide
- It is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's company
- It's still opening stores, including a deal for 20 DQ Grill & Chill restaurants in Puerto Rico
Why are people searching this now?
Searches for "is Dairy Queen going out of business" jumped about 1,400% this week on Google Trends. We didn't find a new nationwide closure announcement this week. The spike seems to come from older closure stories going around again, plus local news about single stores. Fox Business and others reported the latest wave in July 2026.
Is your local DQ closing? Check Dairy Queen's store locator or call the store, since closures are decided store by store.
FAQ
Is Dairy Queen going out of business?
No. Dairy Queen has about 7,800 locations and is owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Some franchise stores closed, but the company is not shutting down.
How many Dairy Queens closed?
At least 46: about 42 in Texas in early 2025, 3 in Alaska in 2026 and 1 in Great Falls, Montana.
Why did Dairy Queens in Texas close?
Dairy Queen revoked franchisee Project Lonestar’s rights after required remodels weren’t done, so its stores had to close.
How many Dairy Queens are left in Alaska?
One, in Soldotna, after the Anchorage, Wasilla and Palmer stores closed in 2026.
Sources
- Fox Business: Dairy Queen closes dozens of locations in Alaska, Montana, Texas
- Fast Company: Dairy Queen store closures in 2026
- Fox 5 Atlanta: Beloved ice cream chain shuttering dozens of stores
Spot something wrong? Send a correction.