Dairy Queen, Virden’s Sweet Spot!

By Cindy Ladage

Lula Hampleman and her husband Kenny moved to Virden, Illinois on September 1st of 1988 when they bought the Dairy Queen in Virden.  They had previously ran the Dairy Queen in Pinckneyville, Illinois.  “Our mix man said, the Dairy Queen in Virden, Illinois was for sale,” Lula explained, so we came and bought it.”

“When he told us about it, I’d never heard of Virden,” Lula said, although she said that like Pinckneyville, Virden was a charming small town, so it fit right into the kind of atmosphere she was used to.  Lula grew up in Pinckneyville, Illinois and she still has some family in the area.

“My husband Kenny has been gone 11 years now,” Lula said.  “Everyone knew Kenny.”  It is easy to recall the friendly face of Lula’s husband who always had a kind word to say and joined in conversations with the diners. 

The Dairy Queen is part of the fabric of the Virden Community.  It is the place where everyone goes after a youth ball game, or for a meal when you don’t feel like cooking. It’s the place where people dine in or drive through with both kids and dogs!

For Lula, those that work there feel like family, and both Virden, and the restaurant are home.  “It’s a lot of work, but very rewarding.  We have good kids that work here.  My brother and sister-in-law (married to my other brother) work here.  All my kids live here,” she added.

Kenny and Lula have three children.  Their daughter Stephenie Summer lives in Girard, their son Adam lives in Virden, and works at Dairy Queen with Lula, and their youngest Timothy lives and works in Springfield.

Lula feels like the Virden Dairy Queen at Virden is unique in that it is one of the only ones still making their own Dilly Bars and Buster Bars.  “We make them homemade by hand.”

As for the employees, she said, “I feel like we are a family, even though the kids that work here aren’t related, I feel like they are family.  I’ve had so many kids work here over the years, some have even met and married.  I have played piano at some of their weddings.”

Besides playing piano at a few of the weddings that have come about since meeting at the DQ, Lula also plays piano at the Grace Southern Baptist Church that she attends.

At the Dairy Queen they often have specials and Lula tries to follow whatever specials that the Dairy Queen brand advertises.  It has become a bit more challenging since inflation has increased prices.  The former $5.00 meal deal is now $7.00 but it is still a bargain with a drink, chicken strips, fries and gravy and a sundae for a low cost.

The biggest sellers Lula said are chicken strips and blizzards.  Lula’s favorite item that Dairy Queen sells is their French fries!

Besides the regular DQ menu, the ice cream cakes are also a very popular item. They can be ordered in the store, or also online at the Virden Dairy Queen website DQ Food and Treat in Virden, IL, 1003 N Springfield St | DairyQueen.com.

Lula employees 17 individuals at the Diary Queen. All are local with everyone from the Virden and Girard area and one commuting back and forth from Springfield.

Dairy Queen has been part of Lula’s life since she began working.  “I started working at the Pinckneyville Dairy Queen at 15 in 1976,” she said. “This is the only job I’ve ever known.”

That is where she met Kenny. “His wife passed away from breast cancer and we got together.  The rest is history.”

Dairy Queen has been good to the Hamplemans.  “I feel like Dairy Queen is a good Company.  It is very family oriented, and that is a good thing.”

Lula is also family oriented and tries to give back to the community.  “I used to play for the solo contest at the school, and I try to give free ice cream to businesses and to support the local sports teams and work with the schools, churches and nursing homes.”

Dairy Queen is located at 1003 Springfield St., on the main drag.  They are open from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. every day but Christmas! For more information about Dairy Queen and what they have to offer, call 217-965-4287.