Emma Kemp, owner of iconic Saskatoon Dairy Queen, dies at 94

The owner of the iconic EighthStreet Dairy Queen inSaskatoon died earlier this month at the age of 94.

Emma Kemp opened the free-standing walk-up ice-cream shop 56years ago. It was her second DQ ice-cream shop. The first was built at 20th Street and Avenue G.

In April, Saskatoon Morning host Leisha Grebinski spoke with Kemp's nephew, Don Kardash, during a special live broadcast about EighthStreet.

He said what makes the ice-cream shop unique is that you can walk up, bike up or drive up to the store.

"You don't have to go in a door," he said. "You pull up to the front and place your order and you get your ice cream."

The classic drive-in

However, this wasn't Kemp's first business venture. In 1951, she opened up The Nighthawk drive-in with her husband, Norm.

The drive-in was located roughly where Fuddruckers now stands on 8th Street. The restaurant sold classic drive-in fare hot dogs, hamburgers, fries and Coca-Cola. That's it.

Kardash said his aunt liked to keep it simple.That's why the landmark Dairy Queen on EighthStreet still stands.

"They knew success when they had it."

Kardash said today that the family sees no reason why the ice-cream stand won't stay exactly the same.