Staff photo by Fritz Busch Sleepy Eye Dairy Queen owner Darrell Kral stands outside the newly-remodeled business on West Main Street that reopened Oct. 26 after three weeks of exterior remodeling. Kral said new signage and LED lights will be soon added outside the business.

SLEEPY EYE — After being closed for three weeks of exterior remodeling, the Sleepy Eye Dairy Queen reopened for business Saturday, Oct. 26.

Owner Darrell Kral said the project included moving the drive-through from the west side to the east side of the business. He thinks the change will improve service.

“Now the drive-through parallels the back alley. We added a walk-out door. It’s easier to drive-through big-time,” Kral said.

The Dairy Queen exterior is the newest franchise building design that will include LED lights and a large, red spoon.

“This was mainly an exterior remodel. I think adding our LED lights outside will really make the building stick out. We’ll do new things inside too including new tables, chairs, padded benches, countertops and paint,” said Kral.

“There are new Dairy Queen products several times a year. Right now, our Parmesan garlic sauce and toss chicken, cakes and Oreo blizzards are most popular,” he said.

Kral said many of his customers come from New Ulm, which no longer has a Dairy Queen franchise.

“We really appreciate them coming to Sleepy Eye,” he said.

Kral bought the Sleepy Eye Dairy Queen last spring from Scott Vaubel who owned it for more than 10 years.

He may be a familiar face. Kral and his parents sold sweet corn at the corner of U.S. Highway 14 and State Highway 4 in Sleepy Eye.

Kral said he bought the Sleepy Eye Dairy Queen because his two girls may take it over when they’re old enough.

“They can learn it from the bottom up like they did with farming,” he said.

Dairy Queen hours remain 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.

When Kral isn’t busy at the Dairy Queen, he farms, growing corn, beans and cattle near Sleepy Eye and Comfrey.