For the third year in a row, Loveland’s Dairy Queen has been honored as the number one location among the company’s more than 1,200 candy stores nationwide.
The frozen food stop at the southeast corner of Eisenhower Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue has continued a booming business despite the pandemic.
General Manager Gabby Peake, who has been with the store for four and a half years, said the Loveland DQ workers have grown together as a strong team and remain ready to serve a dessert-hungry community.
“I have a really good staff,” Peake said. “We have built it quite well.”
17-year-old team leader Jordan Brunacci said several other members of his family, including his father and aunt, also worked at the same store. He said the other jobs he has had are no match for the one he has now.
“It’s a great job,” Brunacci said. “You always go.”
Peake said employees weren’t sure how the pandemic would affect their sales as other companies struggled with the economic cost of stay-at-home orders and closings.
But despite the concern, the store at 300 E. Eisenhower Blvd. continued to be busy both indoors and in the drive-thru as people searched for a sweet escape.
“It was (like) summer all year long,” Peake said. “We have not dropped a bit.”
With continually high sales and the workforce to keep mixing and delivering the company’s famous Blizzards and more, the store was able to maintain its No. 1 position in the nation.
Peake and other employees say this was made possible by the people behind and in front of the counter.
“It feels amazing,” Peake said. “I am very proud of my staff and my employees. We couldn’t have done it without the customers. “
Jenny Sparks / Loveland Reporter-Herald
General Manager Gabby Peake creates the classic curl on top of a soft vanilla ice cream while making ice cream for a customer Tuesday at the Loveland Dairy Queen.
Rachel Farber, a shift leader who said she loves ice cream and loves customers, said she is proud of the team she works with to earn this recognition from her company.
She, like Peake and Brunacci, said that despite everything that happened in the world last year, customers kept coming.
“(We are) always busy,” Farber said. “Even when it’s snowing, we have a line. People like to get a blizzard in a blizzard. “
To celebrate his third Dairy Queen nod, Peake said the store is planning a special weekend for its customers, but with a pandemic twist.
Customers who come in Friday through Sunday, March 5-7, and purchase treats will receive a coupon for a free Medium Blizzard. The promotional coupon will be valid from March 8 and will last until the end of the year.
“That way it gives us some time for people to come and go as they please,” Peake said. “And it gives us three days to hand out the cards and the rest of the year for people to redeem them, so we’re not drawing a huge crowd at once.”
Peake said the team looks forward to another year of great sales and possibly a fourth year of being the best in the nation.
“I plan to continue hiring and training and keep my team going,” Peake said.
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