Dairy Queen has recently closed 12 additional restaurants in Texas, following the shutdown of 25 locations in the state last month. These closures, totaling 37 over two months, primarily affect regions such as the Texas Panhandle, North Texas, and the South Plains. All affected establishments were operated by the franchisee Lone Star DQ.

Despite these closures, Texas continues to have the highest number of Dairy Queen outlets in the United States. Assets from the recently closed locations have been auctioned off, with items like ice cream machines and kitchen equipment available for sale.

Dairy Queen, founded in 1940 and owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway since 1997, operates approximately 7,700 restaurants worldwide. The recent closures in Texas are part of a broader trend affecting fast-casual dining establishments, with chains like Red Lobster, TGI Fridays, and On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina also experiencing significant financial challenges and restaurant shutdowns in the past year.

In contrast to these closures, Dairy Queen recently celebrated “Free Cone Day” on March 20, offering customers a free small vanilla cone to mark the first day of spring. This promotion was available at participating non-mall locations, with an option to add a chocolate dip for $1, supporting the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

The specific locations of the 12 most recently closed Dairy Queen restaurants have not been fully disclosed, but reports indicate that areas such as Hemphill, Jasper, Kountze, Huntington, Lufkin, and Longview Eastman were affected.

While these developments may inconvenience some customers, Dairy Queen maintains a strong presence in Texas and continues to serve its signature soft-serve ice cream and other menu items across numerous locations in the state.