Years before the original Marion Dairy Queen came into existence, it sat just outside of Marion city limits next to the Motel Marion and across from the Veteran’s Administration Hospital. It was started up by Frank Roth in early 1950 and was originally just a small walkup facility without a drive thru. The business was an almost instant success and became a local favorite finally being incorporated into city limits at 2200 W. Main Street around 1958.

Frank Roth’s ownership appears to transfer to Kirk Palmer around 1956 and then to Blair S. Alden around 1959. The business was purchased by the Leslie White family around 1966 and then to Gene Watson around 1979. In 1998 the business was purchased by local attorney Thomas Wolf.

The business was modified several times over the years with the addition of an expanded dining area and drive thru window. The often awkward to enter drive thru area from Main Street was modified to circle around the building in early 2024 making it easier and safer to enter the drive thru lane without getting run over by traffic on W. Main Street.

The franchise was barely able to hold on during the Co-Vid crisis of 2020-2021, but after that, was never really ever able to secure working staff to man the business again for any length of time. This forced the decision by owner Thomas Wolf to close the location on W. Main Street permanently and put the business location up for sale in July 2024.

Wolf owns another Marion Dairy Queen at 201 E. DeYoung Street which appears to be faring well at this writing. Also, at this writing there is another Dairy Queen located on New Rt. 13 West of Marion.

(Sources: Marion Street Directories, WCHS photo database. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 11/13/2024)