DQ to open 20 restaurants across the U.S. territory by 2036
International Dairy Queen, Inc. is preparing to bring the DQ Grill & Chill® experience back to Puerto Rico, marking a significant expansion move for the quick-service restaurant brand in the Caribbean. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, American Dairy Queen Corporation, the company has signed an agreement to open 20 restaurants across the island by 2036.
The deal represents more than a new market entry. For Dairy Queen, it is a return to Puerto Rico after more than two decades and a strategic step in strengthening its presence across the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico. The first restaurant is expected to open in San Juan in the first quarter of 2027, with 19 additional locations planned over the following years.
To lead the expansion, IDQ selected Caribbean Creamery LLC, an affiliate of Richport Restaurants LLC, which owns and operates franchised restaurants in Puerto Rico. The company’s local market knowledge, leadership strength, and restaurant operations experience positioned it as the partner to introduce a new generation of Puerto Rican guests to the DQ brand.
“We are pleased to add Puerto Rico as a market for DQ® restaurants,” said Nicolas Boudet, chief operating officer, international, at International Dairy Queen. “This new deal expands our established footprint in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico. We selected Caribbean Creamery as our franchisee based on the strength of their leadership team, their operational expertise and their long-term commitment to the market.”
When the first DQ Grill & Chill restaurant opens, guests can expect the brand’s combination of hot food and signature treats. For IDQ and Caribbean Creamery, the launch will begin a long-term growth story built around brand familiarity, local execution, and the opportunity to reconnect Dairy Queen with Puerto Rico’s restaurant market.
