As Shoppers Mall Brandon continues to see the gradual re-opening of an increasing assortment of shops and services, a long-time fixture in the facility’s food court has announced that its return will not be viable.
After having first temporarily closed in March during the early pandemic response, Brandon Dairy Queen franchisee Laird Lidster confirmed on Monday that the Mall location for the popular eatery has made the difficult decision to permanently close.
DQ maintains two additional restaurants in Brandon that are uneffected by the food court location news. The 2019-opened Corral Centre ‘Grill & Chill’ location has remained open throughout the spring, offering service exclusively through an often visibly busy drivethru for a period. Takeout was re-introduced in May followed by a re-opening to limited dine-in and patio seating earlier this month.
Dairy Queen’s history in the city dates back to 1954 when the long-time seasonal restaurant first opened at its trademark location at 18th Street and Park Avenue. That location opened for the season earlier this Spring.
Over and above food and treat options, a selection of Orange Julius product is offered at both locations.
DQ had first opened in Shoppers Mall in the Summer of 2000 as the first tenant to open in a newly renovated food court. The location employed between 10 and 13 on average, with Lidster sharing that current staff are being worked with to find further employment in other stores where interested. More than 50 are employed between the franchise’s other locations in the city.
Shoppers Mall’s Food Court has returned to a near-full complement of restaurants in recent weeks with Tim Hortons, Thai Express, A & W, New York Fries, Subway and Sizzling Wok presently being opened. Italian food provider Vanelli’s remains temporarily closed. Food Court seating is available on a reduced basis in lieu of physical distancing required by Provincial regulations.
The Mall has welcomed two new tenants in recent weeks, with both the Brandon Public Library and Scorteus Leather opening previously planned locations in the facility. A full list of stores to have opened to-date is published at https://shoppersmallbrandon.com/pages/shoppersmall-re-opening