Shari Dilts serves up an ice cream cone at Dairy Queen on July 19, 2013. (Staff photo by Samantha Sciarrotta.)
Sophia Gonzalez of Hamilton enjoys a sweet treat from Dairy Queen on Arena Drive July 24, 2013. (Staff photo by Samantha Sciarrotta.)
When former Dairy Queen franchise owner Ted Walker approached Shari and Mike Dilts about taking over for him at his Arena Drive location 15 years ago, they jumped at the chance. They had been thinking about opening their own business for a few years prior, but Shari felt their children were too young.
It turns out Walker came to them at the right time.
“I was ready,” she said. “The kids were a little bit older. Ted trained us, and he was 80-some years old. He would stay from the early morning until we closed training us on everything. He did a great job, and my husband and I took over.”
The original franchise stood as its own building for 30 years before it was knocked down and replaced with the shopping center where it’s currently located. Shari and Mike took over at that point.
“I enjoy it,” Shari said. “I enjoy making the cakes. I enjoy training the kids. It’s been a very good experience, even though it was my husband’s idea. It’s been a very uplifting experience for me. I love the customers.”
Shari makes and decorates the ice cream cakes and cupcakes, which were introduced at the end of last season, while her staff members create traditional DQ treats like Blizzards and Dilly Bars.
They are all more than happy to come into work, she said.
“I go home to my mom every day and tell her how much I love working here,” employee Andrew Dolci said. “I’m actually excited to come it. How can you be mad coming in to make ice cream?”
Dolci, 16, is the fourth member of his family to work at Dairy Queen. His three sisters were prior employees and recommended he try it out.
“All my sisters had a really good time working here,” he said. “They always talked about how friendly it was. I really wanted a summer job this year, and I figured this would be the best place to go. There’s no better place to work.”
Dilts said she has seen several sets of siblings come and go. Even her own children, Megan and Dan, worked at Dairy Queen for years before Megan became a veterinarian and Dan a CPA.
All of her staff, she said, shares Dolci’s enthusiasm. In fact, this is the first year she’s had to hire more than one person at the start of the season.
“I think it’s a great, great first job,” she said. “Most of the kids start when they’re 16, and they’ll stay though college. Even if they go away, they’ll come back for the summer. We’ve been very, very lucky. It’s just very, very nice. It’s been rewarding for me. I feel like I’m watching them grow up. It’s just exciting.”
Business is booming as the summer gets into full swing, but Shari said the weather affects her customers.
“When it’s really hot, sometimes it’s not quite as busy during the day,” she said. “At night, once the sun starts to go down, it’s out the door. Weather definitely plays a big part in the ice cream business.”
Shari said she and her employees “love” their patrons, both old and new.
“We are very appreciative of our customers,” she said. “We have a lot of regular customers who come in and support us. The kids get to know them, and they get to know the kids. It’s very rewarding.”
Dairy Queen is located at 634 Arena Drive in Hamilton and is open seven days a week until the end of October, noon-10 p.m. Phone: (609) 888-1003.
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