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.
