A Sweet Treat and Step Back in Time along the Historic Route 66
Charles Duboise’s Family has owned the Dairy King in Commerce, Oklahoma for over 44 years. His parents, Kenneth and Treva Duboise, purchased the business September 1, 1980. The original building was opened in January 1927 as a Marathon Gas Station. The original owners sold it to another family around 1940 and that family changed it from a Marathan brand to a Flying A brand gas station, which lasted until 1964. The owner’s wife started selling soft serve ice cream in 1951, when the business was still a gas station. Her husband worked on cars and sold tires from the gas station. In 1957, the owner passed away and his wife stopped selling gas and started concentrating solely on ice cream and food. She ran the business until 1964 and sold it to another family that ran it for about 16 years. In 1980, the Duboise Family along with their seven children, purchased the business and have faithfully run it ever since.
“There were gas stations on every corner.” Charles stated. All gas stations were full service, including an attendant pumping gas, cleaning the windshield, checking the oil, and other routine automotive maintenance. Service stations would try to capitalize on more than just gas, in order to bring in more revenue. Candy, soda, chips, and cigarettes were a mainstay for purchase.
Mr. Duboise spoke about the guests his family has served over the years. Travelers from Austria, China, Japan, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Charles shared several items he has received from guests over the years. A small pair of red Dutch salt and pepper shakers, an Eiffel tower keychain from a motorcycle group from France. In addition, one guest gifted Mr. Duboise an authentic silk kimono from Japan.
Many foreign and local travelers enjoy embarking on the historic Route 66 scenic byway that runs from east to west across the lower United States. The Dairy King is right along this popular path. In addition to the Dairy King, visitors enjoy other highlights in Commerce and nearby Miami, Oklahoma, such as The Coleman Theatre, the famous Mickey Mantle Statue and the home where the world-famous baseball player grew up, and the historic Allen’s Conoco Fillin’ Station, just across the street from the Dairy King.
In 1905, ore was discovered in Commerce, Oklahoma. In addition to the colorful history of this small town on Route 66, Bonnie and Clyde were known for shooting a constable in Commerce, Oklahoma on April 6, 1934. Harry S. Truman temporarily lived in a hotel in downtown Commerce for 6-7 months and also owned a mine in town. A year after he sold the ore mine, at the site of the mine, happened to be the exact location where Bonnie and Clyde shot and killed the Constable.
Charles Duboise has trademarked a Route 66 sugar cookie to share with his guests. You can buy them by the dozen or simply take one or two for the road. He has patented the cookie cutter, which resembles the Route 66 insignia. He shared that his secret ingredient is pure Mexican vanilla, which he and his mother purchase when enjoying annual Mexican cruises. “These cookies are known all the way to China.”, says Charles.
As I sat in one of the few wooden booths around the most popular time of day (noon), several locals arrived to place their orders.
Another visitor came through the door, named Keith. I only know this because Charles’ mother, Treva, greeted him by name. Keith proceeded to order his usual and indicated that some of his best memories took place in the very lobby in which my sons and I sat. As Charles worked in the kitchen and his mother took orders from the drive-through window, Mr. Keith informed me that, “Dairy King has really good food.” He went on to share several Route 66 notable stops for our day trip. After enjoying his lunch, he meandered to the register and said: “How much do I owe you, Treva?”. It is this old-fashioned, down-home, customer-friendly service that makes the Dairy King seem less like a business and more like sharing good food and great conversation, laced with nostalgic memories, with friends from a collective community.
Duboise went on to tell a story about a couple that desired to have a red-and-white themed wedding. What better place than the lobby of the Dairy King, with its red-and-white checked lobby? There were 80 attendees on motorcycles for the great celebration. The couple said their ‘I Do’s’ in the doorway of the Dairy King in 2016.
The Duboise Family indicates that owning the Dairy King is not simply owning a beloved small-town ice cream and café. Rather it is owning an invaluable piece of history. People visit the Dairy King from all over the world, as it is prime real estate on the well-traversed historic Route 66. The Dubose’s truly attempt to accommodate every guest that comes through the welcome glass door, regaling them with tales of history from the Ozarks and openly engaging in stories of their own near and far regions of the world. The Dairy King is not a franchise. There are other cafés of the same name. However, none are quite as unique and steeped in the tapestry of the historic Route 66 as the one located in Commerce, Oklahoma.
It is these small businesses that have gracefully stood the test of time, in which residents and visitors alike cherish. History is only as real as the attempt modern society makes to preserve it. The Duboise Family has done just that in Commerce, Oklahoma, by sharing their beloved Dairy King with the grateful community.
