Franchisee proposes Mandarin Dairy Queen — and hints at Downtown interest

[thelakelander]

What appears to be the first new Duval County Dairy Queen in nine years is in review for Mandarin.

And the franchisee is targeting Downtown Jacksonville as well.

"Jacksonville is a dynamic market, very vibrant," said Toks Achebe, a partner in franchisee CrossRoads Portfolio Inc., on June 12.

That includes the city core.

"We are looking at Downtown. Dairy Queen needs to be in Downtown Jacksonville," Achebe said.

The 86-year-old Dairy Queen company — home of soft-serve ice cream cones, Dilly Bars and other novelties, burgers, chicken baskets and drinks — "is the American culture," Achebe said.

"So you want to be able to be in place like Downtown Jacksonville," Achebe said, where customers can "walk down the street and grab you a Blizzard."

Downtown Jacksonville "is prime" and now is the time "to get in," he said.

Achebe did not specify a potential location Downtown to provide the Blizzard Treats, a DQ best-seller introduced 41 years ago made of dense soft-serve and mix-ins like Nestle Drumstick and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup pieces.

"We are scoping around. Dairy Queen is solidly behind us," Achebe said.

Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/jun/15/franchisee-proposes-mandarin-dairy-queen-and-hints-at-downtown-interest/