Lackey's Dairy Queen celebrates 60 years of business, new ownership

The latest scoop on Lackey's Dairy Queen in North Apollo is that it's 60 years old — and it has a new owner.

The store opened in 1955, the same year Dairy Queen came out with one of its signature treats, the Dilly Bar. Having served almost two million of the bars, the new ownership plans to keep the curly-cued treats coming for many years.

Former employee — now owner — Matt Spires purchased the slightly retro-looking Dairy Queen in February from Gene and Jan Lackey, owners for 37 years.

Spires began working at Lackey's when he was 16 and knows his Buster Bars and Blizzards after 17 years working alongside the Lackeys.

He was a “natural” solution to our “dilemma of who to sell the shop to” say the Lackeys.

“My husband Gene was the only son and had three sisters (Alice Morris, Joyce Myers, and Dolly McCoy),” says Jan Lackey. “And, although all three siblings grew up working in the family business, at this stage in their lives, no one could commit to taking over the beloved family business.”

The siblings' father, Paul Lackey, along with wife, Beatrice, both deceased, opened the site along Route. 66 and the Kiski River in North Apollo in June 1955.

The treasured ice cream shop celebrates its 60th anniversary today, with a customer appreciation day featuring music and ice cream specials.

The Lackeys, married 46 years, never had children of their own, but the business was our “baby,” Jan Lackey said.

Spires of Oklahoma Borough is committed to keeping the Lackey's name and honoring the tradition of serving up homemade frozen treats, tradition, and memories.

“I am keeping their tradition alive, and it has been a smooth transition since I purchased the business,” says Spires. “Although, now, I have to bring work home with me and keep the books.”

Oklahoma resident Jennifer Cricks Petrilla grew up on ice cream from Lackey's and fondly recalls the day she dressed up as a Dilly Bar for the business.

“When I was 8, the Lackeys asked me to dress up in a Dilly Bar costume for advertising,” says Petrilla. “I was paid with free ice cream, which is the best ice cream in the Valley.”

The seasonal shop will retain its March through October schedule, and offers customers a walk up service and outdoor picnic tables. Lackeys is an old-school Dairy Queen — no burgers or fries here.

These days, Lackeys “Blizzard” frozen treats have surpassed the Dilly Bars in sales, and the debate over which flavor of soft serve ice cream is most in demand is settled.”

“I am team vanilla,” Jan Lackey said. “We sold more vanilla.”

The recently retired Lackeys live in Kiski Township's Spring Church section and plan to attend Saturday's evening events at 6 p.m.

“Gene and I will be there all evening, and we expect quite a crowd,” Jan Lackey said. “The community has been so good to us and we wanted to get out (sell the business) while the gettin' was good.”

Gene, 70, enjoys golf, dining out, playing cards, motorcycling, and skiing at Seven Springs.

The active couple plan to ride west on their custom Harley-Davidson touring bike for this fall.

“I think that Dairy Queen was our fountain of youth,” Jan Lackey joked. “We are blessed with good health and this business has been a gift from God.”

Joyce Hanz is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.