THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 16, 1997 TAG: 9701160234
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARGO MATEAS
CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 29 lines
Mitch Sandlin, owner of several Dairy Queen franchises throughout Hampton Roads, says he will open a Dairy Queen at the SCALCO gas station site at Spotswood and Colley Avenues in the Ghent district of Norfolk. Construction will begin in late February in anticipation of a late May opening, Sandlin said.
The project will be a 3,000 square foot mini-food court with a Dairy Queen and another fast-food enterprise. The Dairy Queen will serve an ``express menu'' of hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches, polish sausages and ice cream.
In a design deviation, the Ghent restaurant promises to be a ``unique location that in no way will resemble a Dairy Queen'' and will have a 50's decor and period music, Sandlin said. ``It's going to be really fun - not your normal fast-food look.''
According to Ghent Business Association guidelines, the restaurant will front the sidewalk, making it pedestrian-friendly, and no parking will be visible from the street.
Sandlin plans a double drive-through DQ at the former Hot N' Now restaurant at General Booth Boulevard and Dam Neck in Virginia Beach by March. He also has a DQ each in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake and is may replace a DQ in Suffolk that burned in 1995.