Christopher Celeste, the co-owner of Rosewater, purchased the ice cream shop on Main Street in 2017 and listed it in a classified ad last week.
The Edgartown Dairy Queen is up for sale, potentially opening up a new chapter in the storied ice cream franchise’s history on Martha’s Vineyard.
Christopher Celeste, the co-owner of Rosewater, purchased the ice cream shop on Main street in 2017 and listed it in a classified ad last week. A price was not disclosed.
When the Celeste family initially took over the ice cream shop from longtime owners Antone (Tony) and Erika Bettencourt, they intended to run it as owner-operators, intimately involved in the day to day runnings,” Mr. Celeste said.
Mr. Celeste’s son Max Celeste had been running the business until 2020, when he decided that he and his family could no longer fully dedicate themselves to it anymore, Mr. Celeste said. He hopes the future buyer will give the business the attention it deserves.
“I think the owner should be behind the counter,” Mr. Celeste said. “It’s the only way to really understand the rhythms of the business.”
Dairy Queen is one of the few national franchises on the Island, its founding predating local restrictions on fast food. Despite its corporate cachet, it’s long been a go-to spot for Islanders looking to get their frozen fix.
“There’s an irony that here this national fast-food franchise has become a beloved local institution,” Mr. Celeste said.
An LLC connected to David and Jessica Rosenberg purchased the building that Dairy Queen is in and an adjacent property in 2021 for $2.8 million. Only the business is for sale.
Although the call has been out less than a week, Mr. Celeste said he has already received dozens of interested buyers, many of whom adamantly profess their love of Dairy Queen. Because of the Vineyard’s unique business landscape, Mr. Celeste said that whoever the family sold to would ideally have prior experience operating a business on-Island.
Regardless, Mr. Celeste is considering any and all offers.
“That’s the great thing about Dairy Queen – it’s always been egalitarian,” he said. “Everybody comes in.”

Comments
I love this place! What’s the
Jim EdgartownI love this place! What’s the price? With inflation and cost of everything skyrocketing these days, it’s hard to be in business.
The prices are high on island and off island. I was off island last week went to a local chain restaurant and a burger was $27.00.
There's a lot of pretty nice
John EdgartownThere's a lot of pretty nice statements in here from the current owners - but let's take the blinders off - this is a real estate play - they'll sell you the business and charge you rent, the rent will become untenable and the place will close - the current owners have a full understanding of the business and it's finances - the first lease will look manageable, but the next one less so, and the last one - not at all. If you're considering it - please go in with your eyes wide open. (for the rest of us, enjoy it while you can)
I thought you would go way
Marty Nadler Margate, FloridaI thought you would go way back
to the beginning history of Dairy Queen on the Vineyard. Wasn't the first
owner a Mr. Brown who stated the 1950's?
business in the 1950's?
You are correct. Mr and Mrs
local historian edgYou are correct. Mr and Mrs Brown owned/operated the original DQ across the street. They sold the property to the A&P who demolished it for parking lot expansion.(I believe the A&P also bought the Kellys kitchen building and demolished it as well) Tony and Erika bought a franchise from DQ and created this business, which was sold to the current operator. The property was subsequently sold to the current landlord who does not own or operate the DQ
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