The operator of several local Dairy Queens in the Valley tells 21 News that they are looking for a contractor to build a new DQ along Market Street in Boardman.

Christine Smith has announced that bids are being sought for the construction of a restaurant on property purchased across from Akron Children’s Hospital.

Smith says the design of the building furthers the franchisees' plans to include drive-thru lanes to at all their local restaurants.

The Smith family operates DQs in Austintown, Cornersburg, Canfield, Columbiana, and Canfield.

The Canfield restaurant on the Village Green does not have a drive-thru. 

Last May, the Smiths recently purchased the former Perkins restaurant in Canfield. However, Smith told 21 News that they are still working on plans for the future of that vacant building on Route 224.

The Perkins restaurant closed its doors in August 2019 when a bankruptcy judge ruled that ten restaurant franchises would no longer be allowed to continue operating using the Perkins name.