Official ground-breaking was Monday February 27
BY JIM BEERS, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – Well, after months of waiting and anticipation, Chester residents became excited Monday February 27 when the official ground-breaking took place for the new Chester Dairy Queen that has been promised for the City of Chester.
A crew from the WW Concrete Company in Pinckneyville, Illinois begins excavation for the construction of the new Dairy Quen Grill & Chill in Chester Monday February 27. Jim Beers Photo
Earlier in the past several days, owner Scott Rust announced a “soft” ground-breaking when his two sons, Nolan and Nash, as they appeared in a Facebook post that read, “Nolan and Nash have some great news Chester!!!!! They helped us move the first dirt of our new DQ.”
“You will start seeing lots of activity over the next week as we will be working hard to get your new DQ open by late summer” (2023). The post includes young Nolan and Nash at the worksite with their plastic shovels appearing to be moving dirt.
Excavation began Monday February 27 for the building of the new Chester Dairy Queen at 816 Lehmen Drive in Chester next to Bert’s Auto Center, Jim Beers Photo
Monday February 27 the weather was sunny and warm as the WW Concrete Company of Pinckneyville, Illinois started moving in heavy equipment to begin excavating and prepping the location for the beginning phase of moving dirt and preparing to pour footings for the new, state-of-the-art Dairy Queen Chill and Grill.
Rust said, in an earlier Facebook post, “We want to give a huge thanks to our friends at Bert’s Auto Service for all of their help over the past year as they have been the best neighbors we could ask for. We look forward to being their neighbors for years to come and appreciate them welcoming us to Chester.”
Construction has begun for the building of the new Chester Grill & Chill Dairy Queen on Rt. 3 North in Chester. This viewpoint is from highway Rt. 3 onlooking toward the Chester Ace Hardware located in the Chester Center Shopping Area. Jim Beers Photo.
The Chester City Council announced at its September 6, 2022 meeting that it had approved a business incentive program application from Rust to build the new Dairy Queen. The location of the building is 816 Lehmen Drive in Chester right next to Bert’s Auto Center. As a matter of fact, the front doors of the DQ will face Bert’s Auto from the parking lot of the Chester Center Shopping area.
Rust already owns two other Dairy Queen Restaurants, one in Sparta and the other in Coulterville. The Chester Grill and Chill will be his third.
This is a view of the long-awaited construction of the new Chester Grill & Chill Dairy Queen. The establishment is being built by Scott Rust of Sparta. Rust already owns two other Dairy Queens, one in Sparta and the other in Coulterville. The Chester DQ will be state-of-the-art and feature the newest building design offer by the Dairy Queen company. Rust hopes to open for business by late summer of 2023. This view is from Bert’s Auto Center and facing the Chester Center Shopping area parking lot. JIm Beers Photo
According to an article in the September 8, 2022 edition of the County Journal, The Chester Dairy Queen will feature the most advanced Dairy Queen design in the region and will include two ordering posts and dual-window drive-through convenience.
Rust has also recognized and given thanks to the City of Chester for its cooperation in helping to make this opportunity possible to build the new Dairy Queen Grill and Chill in Chester.
Rust was referring to a business incentive program created in August of 2021. This program expands the Enterprise Zone that allows state tax exemptions for building materials, and waives building permit fees and Enterprise Zone fees. There is also a property tax abatement for up to 10 years.
Safety fencing was installed at the location last week and on Monday February 27 work began in earnest. Bob Williams, owner of the WW Concrete Company was operating one of the excavators throughout the day and said, “We will be pouring the footings for the building and finishing the parking lot for the Dairy Queen. We are excited to be here have had a good day of weather to begin the project.”
With continued good weather and no other road blocks, the Chester Dairy Queen Grill and Chill will hopefully be serving delicious hot items from its grill and cold, tasty ice cream treats by late summer of 2023.