BEMIDJI — Dairy Queens in rural Minnesota are usually associated with warmer months.
Under new ownership, Bemidji's lakeside summertime staple opened its doors earlier this month.
Andrew Peralta from Thief River Falls purchased the local Dairy Queen franchise from Mike Magnan, whose family previously ran the operation for 40 years, according to an article in the Bemidji Pioneer.
Last year, the Lakeside Dairy Queen didn't open until April 11.
On Valentine's Day, area residents visited the location to purchase love-themed goodies. Terry Hoie of Bagley was one of those patrons, purchasing a heart-shaped cake for his sweetheart on their 17th Valentine's Day.
His advice for young lovers?
"It's the ice cream!"
1 of
— Terry Hoi holds a heard-shaped ice cream cake that he ordered for Valentine's Day at the Dairy Queen in Bemidji.jpg
Terry Hoie holds a heart-shaped ice cream cake he ordered with his sweetheart for their 17th Valentine's Day at the Lakeside Dairy Queen in Bemidji on Feb. 14, 2024. His advice for young lovers: "It's the ice cream!"
Lorie Shaull / Contributed
2 of
— The Dairy Queen manager serves a vanilla cone with spinkles in Bemidji.jpg
The Dairy Queen general/district manager Cassandra Ariano serves a vanilla cone with sprinkles at the Lakeside Dairy Queen in Bemidji on Feb. 14, 2024. Ariano said they were launching an opening in February to "get a feel for the community."
Lorie Shaull
3 of
— The Dairy Queen manager with a heart-shaped ice cream cake at the lakeside Dairy Queen in Bemidji.jpg
Dairy Queen manager Cassandra Ariano with a heart-shaped ice cream cake at the Lakeside Dairy Queen in Bemidji on Feb. 14, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
4 of
— 02 The lakeside Dairy Queen in Bemidji.jpg
The Lakeside Dairy Queen in Bemidji on Feb. 14, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
More From KAXE
-
The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force is implementing automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs, in its jurisdictional boundaries. Civil liberties groups join those concerned with the lack of public knowledge and oversight into how this data is used. -
Plus: The Minnesota PCA will host an informational meeting on permitting and variance requests from US Steel's Keetac Mine in Virginia on Sept. 3; and Wadena drivers can expect major traffic changes as Highway 10 opens and work starts on Highway 71.
-
During the Phenology Report for the week of Aug. 26, 2025, Staff Phenologist John Latimer covers the Common Nighthawk migration and late summer wildflowers. -
Contributed/Chad Davis via FlickrExperts emphasize that people should learn authentic ways to support school shooting survivors, even after the stories fade from headlines.
