The tldr is that that are not rogue nor ignoring corporate HQ. They are just operating under a very old agreement (dating to the 1940s) which offers the local owners more flexibility. That allows them to offer their own menu items, close during winter, and make standard DQ items in nonstandard ways (which my local DQ is happy to do as well, FWIW).
Honestly it sounds like corporate has their head up their own butt. I understand why uniformity sells, DQ becomes a "known quantity" and if you're driving in an unknown area you can hop in and know exactly what you're getting.
But you can accomplish that AND allow individual stores to excel by allowing them a few bespoke/store specific items. Just call them "store specials" or something.
I think DQ HQ sounds too arrogant, instead of trying to bring this store in line, they should be looking at what they're doing that makes them so popular and try to replicate core elements of that across other stores.
DQ as a brand, to me, is one that is slowly dying or at the very least has hit a growth stall. They may not be struggling, but the storm clouds are off over the horizon, and around here places like Menchie's are much more popular for desert.
I wish the franchise model allowed this. You can have a minimum level of service, but allow some locations to customize their experience or provide other services as long as it goes above and beyond the minimum. For example, a Starbucks in the big city can standardize around fancy latte art, but a location in th country could compete more directly with Dunkin Donuts. You can have a local McDonalds with furniture and decor that more resembles Shake Shack or Chipotle than McDonalds from the 90s.
That coin has two sides, of course; if a franchisee makes alterations that dissatisfy customers (unintentionally or by choosing to cut corners), it reflects poorly on the brand.
This DQ is pretty famous in the area and is located at a busy intersection in Moorhead.
You can get a decent lunch for around $6 and be totally full, which is hard to do these days. A foot long chili cheese dog, an order of fries and a 20oz drink for $6? Unheard of these days.
With all the fast food places (including DQ Grill and Chill restaurants) starting to reduce their portions while increasing prices, this place hasn't done that yet - a simple reason people keep coming back. In the summer, the lines are long because all the landscapers, lawn crews, and construction guys flock to this place for lunch because you get a ton of food almost nothing.
There's nothing rogue about this DQ at all, this is just a corporate press release that has unfortunately gotten picked up a bit. If you look at their "local items" that are supposedly rebellious, it's just hot dogs like every other DQ that serves hot food serves.
My local DQs close for the winter too, there's nothing special about that either. It's typical of DQs with no indoor seating in northern states.
