Ah, the Dairy Queen on Route 37 in Toms River. Not just a haven for ice cream lovers but a genuine local hangout that shaped the childhoods of many who grew up in the area in the 1980s. Located where Honda Universe now stands, this wasn’t just any Dairy Queen—it was a full-service oasis that meant much more to the community than just Blizzards and Dilly Bars.
The journey to Dairy Queen was its own mini-adventure. After eagerly awaiting Friday, allowances in hand for completing our chores, we would hop onto our Mongoose and Redline BMX bikes. We’d weave through the wooded trail behind Hill Road, near the Holiday Inn, defying the temptation of exploring the large sewer pipes underneath Toms River or taking on a few ramps along the path. Our final destination? Dairy Queen, of course.
On weekends, we didn’t just frequent the place for its desserts; we also worked there. The owner would pay us youngsters to clean up trash in the parking lot. It wasn’t a laborious task, taking about 20 minutes. And the payment? Ah, that was the best part—keys to the arcade machines for an entire hour. Honestly, it was the best job I’ve ever had, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I could turn back time.
I even celebrated a few of my birthdays in the Dairy Queen’s party room, which were undoubtedly some of the best parties ever. A combination of ice cream, good friends, and the excitement of the adjacent arcade—it couldn’t get any better than that.
Speaking of arcades, let’s not forget that this Dairy Queen was also home to a full-featured arcade that hosted all the best games. It was a common sight to see a row of quarters lined up on the machines, each signaling an upcoming challenge between friends. It was our arena, our battlefield, and the foundation of countless fond memories.
Tragically, Dairy Queen shut down shortly after construction began at Downs Ford next door. For a brief period while Downs Ford was under construction, we even had our own makeshift BMX park right next to our favorite arcade. But as the trees fell and the bulldozers moved in, our local paradise slowly faded away.
Even though it’s been years, the memories of the Dairy Queen on Route 37 in Toms River are vivid as ever. It wasn’t just an ice cream parlor; it was a cornerstone of our youth, a piece of community history that’s dearly missed.