Scottsdale once had a Polynesian-themed Dairy Queen. It's getting a new life as a restaurant
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The space where Oliver’s Modern American restaurant is set to open next month will feature parts of a former Scottsdale icon: a Polynesian-themed Dairy Queen.
The Dairy Queen opened in the mid-1960s, when Tiki culture was at its peak, on the southwestern corner of 68th Street and McDowell Road. The corner also housed a Polynesian-themed condo unit and shopping center.
“It was called Polynesian Paradise. It was actually the first Polynesian building kind of on that corner,” said Jennifer Hibbard, co-owner of Twins and Co. Realty. “It was built in 1962, and so the Polynesian Dairy Queen was permitted in 1964, along with the Polynesian Plaza.”
When the Dairy Queen first opened, the building was covered in vines, pom pom grass, bamboo and palm trees to give the area a tropical feel. The interior had fish nets, fake fish, Hawaiian photographs, and a bright paint job of olive green, gold, and orange.
Though only one story, the building reached 42 feet at the tip, a result of the eye-catching A-frame. Through years of change to the building, the A-frame was one part that stuck around.
The Dairy Queen closed in the mid-'80s, but the building lived on as other businesses including an Enterprise Rent-A-Car and an RV rental service.
By 2018, the building had been sitting empty for years. Issues involving asbestos left property owner Don Drake with few options. When proposed plans for demolition came to light, Jennifer Hibbard stepped in.
Hibbard was the one to reach out to the property owner, with help from Alison King, the founder of Modern Phoenix, Arizona's largest image bank of mid century architecture. The pair was able to bring attention to the building through social media.
“It was a community effort for sure. From start to finish there were so many people involved, I'm just lucky to have stepped in when I did to get it in front of more people.” Hibbard said.
The social media campaign caught the attention of local developer Tom Frenkel, who has a history of turning historic buildings into trendy restaurants. Frenkel took the building at no cost and disassembled it, eventually shipping parts of it to Hayden and Osborn roads for a new restaurant.
Frenkel’s new venture, Oliver’s Modern American, utilizes mid-century architecture, with the 36-foot-tall A-frame from the Polynesian Dairy Queen featured at the entrance. The space includes historical photos of the original building and other memorabilia from the Polynesian Dairy Queen.
Oliver’s Modern American is set to open May 24.
