Tastee tradition: Moorhead ice cream joint marks 60 years

For 20 years, Duane and Fern Elofson have been serving ice cream treats, burgers, fries, hot dogs, onion rings and other goodies from the Moorhead Tastee Freez at 410 19th St. S.

Fern, who grew up in the neighborhood, remembers when the tiny drive-in restaurant was built in 1963.

Duane had managed the Moorhead Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant for 17 years before they became co-owners of the Moorhead Tastee Freez in July 1990.

His personalized license plate reads “Dr. Freez.”

Tastee Freez opened its first U.S. restaurant in 1950 and is celebrating its 60th birthday this year.

Q: How did you decide to become a Tastee Freez owner?

A: DE: Both our daughters worked here. It was for sale. They said, “Dad, we should buy it.”

I said, “No.” After looking at it, getting an idea of what it would cost and what kind of business it did, we decided to buy it.

Did you visit the Moorhead Tastee Freez as a young customer?

FE: Oh, yes. When it first opened, 100 different flavors of shakes was the big draw. They had every kind: licorice, coffee, peppermint, bubble gum.

What are the popular items on your menu today?

DE: Peanut Parfait, Barrel Bar, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Freeze.

Barbecue and a pop has always been very popular.

And the Monkey Tail – a frozen banana on a stick dipped in chocolate.

When do you open and close?

DE: March 1. Everybody comes even though they are shivering and cold.

We’re open from March 1 to the last Sunday in October, weather permitting.

Who are your customers?

DE: This is a neighborhood. It’s a great community. This has been kind of an old, established hub to meet at.

We get customers from Village Green, from south Moorhead, from north Moorhead. We even have some that come from West Fargo and north Fargo. A lot of college kids, some high schoolers – it’s a mix.

It’s just a place to meet. It hasn’t changed.

Are they repeat customers?

DE: I would say three-fourths of our business is repeat business.

We get college kids for a season or until they are done with college.

We know a lot of people that come here. We have seen their kids grow up with our kids.

I have been to a couple of funerals for customers that have come here ever since we bought it.

Those gentlemen always had a smile on their face. They always brought their kids and grandkids. It was just a neat time.

FE: I think I’ve always been proud that it’s a place for people in the community to come and gather and enjoy themselves.

Do you like this location?

DE: We’ve been asked why don’t we relocate, why don’t we go to a busy part of town.

There’s two reasons: Cost for sure, but secondly we really don’t want to leave the smallness of it, the quaintness of it. I just like the way it is.

What are your busiest days?

DE: We always do free sundaes on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Those are always very busy.

How many employees do you have?

DE: Eleven part-time workers.

Business profile

Moorhead Tastee Freez

• Owners: Duane and Fern Elofson
• Where: 410 19th St. S., Moorhead
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday
• Contact: (218) 236-4982

Readers can reach Forum Business Editor Craig McEwen at (701) 241-5502

Tags: tastee freez, ice cream, business profile, food, moorhead, minnesota, communities, business