Losing History – Old Dairy Queen Building
November 25, 2014
Westview has lost a historic landmark – an old Dairy Queen building at the corner of Ralph David Abernathy Blvd and Laurel Ave across from the Westview Cemetery. The 1956* building, which had been neglected and uninhabited for many years, was most recently sold in 2009 before being demolished over the past week. While further research is necessary to validate this information, it has been said that the building was one of the first Dairy Queen’s in Atlanta.
Former neighbors who grew up in Westview and its vicinity in the 1960s had the following memories about the historic Dairy Queen building:
“Dairy Queen near West View. Had sign on top cone with curl on top.” – L. Bradley
“B. Denson worked at this Dairy Queen after school. (1956-1960). He never could linger after school, always had to go to work. Some years later he bought it. Over time he added other Dairy Queen restaurants around metro Atlanta to his holdings.” – C. Strickland
“It was a Dairy Queen. Went there many times after visiting Westview.” – D. Butler
*Date is based on unverified tax information.
Tags: abernathy, dairy queen, demolition, historic preservation, history, intown atlanta, laurel, southwest atlanta, west end park, westview