Dairy Queen at Pasco High School? What!? You might think I’m pulling your leg, but believe it or not, it’s true. Just a decade ago, Pasco residents, especially students at Pasco High School, cherished having a Dairy Queen so close to home.
Located just a block away on the corner of 14th Avenue and Court Street, the beloved DQ was a major hotspot during off-campus lunch breaks. Students would flock there for Blizzards, chicken strip baskets, burgers, and a wide variety of ice cream treats. Lunch periods weren’t just about food — they became memories. Friends gathered over fries and dipped cones, filling the space with laughter and high school chatter.
“It was the place to be,” recalls Zoriam Cooke, a former student and graduate of Pasco High School. “After school, if you weren’t at DQ, you were missing out.”
During its time, Dairy Queen wasn’t just a place to eat — it was a part of student life at Pasco High. Many students would plan their lunches around quick walks to DQ, taking advantage of the short lines to grab a treat before heading back to class. Fridays were especially popular, with groups gathering to celebrate the end of the school week with a Blizzard or a crispy chicken basket.
However, the Dairy Queen’s reign didn’t last forever. In November 2017, the restaurant closed its doors to make way for an Advance Auto Parts store. The closure marked the end of an era for many who had come to associate the spot with high school memories and youthful freedom.
While students today may only hear stories about the Dairy Queen days, for many alumni, the sweet memories of Blizzards and chicken baskets live on.
As Pasco continues to grow and evolve, so do the traditions of its students. While off-campus lunch is still an option, the experience is a bit different. There are fewer nearby spots that cater to students on a tight schedule. Fast food options exist farther away, but none have quite replaced the central, walkable convenience of Dairy Queen.
The area around Pasco High has also changed over the past decade. With the addition of new businesses like Advance Auto Parts and other fast-food chains farther away, students today have different lunchtime routines. While off-campus lunch is still an option, the days of quick walks to a favorite ice cream shop have become a thing of the past.
While Advance Auto Parts has held the spot since 2017, some students and community members still wonder — could a fast-food comeback be possible? With the continued growth in the Pasco area and the popularity of quick dining options among teens, the idea of bringing back a student-friendly restaurant near the high school has come up in casual conversations.
“Honestly, I think another fast food place right there would do great,” said Emma Ruiz, a junior at PHS. “Something like a Shake Shack — somewhere we could walk to during lunch or after school.”
Although there’s been no official talk of replacing the current store, the thought alone brings excitement. For many, the dream of having another hangout spot just steps away from campus keeps the spirit of the old Dairy Queen alive.
Though the Dairy Queen at 14th and Court is now just a memory, it remains a chapter in Pasco High School’s history. For students who were lucky enough to experience it, the walk to DQ wasn’t just about lunch — it was about friendship, freedom, and fun. As the city grows and changes, the hope for a new student-friendly spot near campus lingers. Whether it’s a return of Dairy Queen or something entirely new, one thing’s for sure: the legacy of that little ice cream shop still lives on in the hearts (and taste buds) of PHS alumni.
