When Jim Costain came to Campbell River with his family in 2004 to buy and manage the Dairy Queen, he didn’t expect to stay more than a few years.
He ended up making the city his permanent home, and he and his family has been involved in community service ever since.
This morning Jim was given the honour of starting demolition on the old Dairy Queen building, which hosted countless families and travellers since its construction along Campbell River’s old waterfront in 1962.
“I was a little nostalgic the other night, it’s the end of an era,” he said before climbing into the excavator, trying to maintain his composure while mentally processing decades of memories. “It totally changed my life, actually.”
Costain said the DQ was much more than a fast food restaurant.
“My son-in-law and my daughter met here. The old manager and his fiance met at the Dairy Queen. Quite a few husbands and wives met at the Dairy Queen actually,” he said.
Countless local young people had their first jobs at the restaurant, a tradition which continues at the new location Costain built across Dogwood Street from the fire hall in 2017. It’s now owned by Costain’s former restaurant manager, who continues to make sure the restaurant supports the community through local sports sponsorships, annual fundraisers for kids’ health care, and more.
While he’s a bit sad to see the end of an era, Costain said the building’s demolition, the last needed before construction can begin in earnest on the “Reimagine the Row” project, is clearing the way for something better.
“I love the old Dairy Queen, but it’s going to be very nice to see the new buildings going up down here and refurbishing of the downtown core, I’m very happy about it,” he said.
Costain still enjoys a Royal Treat at the DQ from time to time; he says his favourite remains the classic banana split.
The Reimagine the Row project will start construction in May. The new building planned for the site will include commercial space on the ground level, with up to 200 residential units above aimed at middle-income tenants on upper floors. Up to 10% of the units will be reserved for tenants needing affordable housing.
It will be completed for new residents to move in sometime next year.
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