Simple and sweet, the now closed Dairy Queen near Butler High School stopped selling its cold treats more than a month ago and people are unhappy, especially the students.

Theresa Hays, a Butler junior whose favorite order was a dipped cone, said the shop played a major role in athletics. A multisport athlete, Theresa said it was used at times as an incentive or for bonding time with teammates.

“After practices and games, we would come out here,” she said.

Theresa said some students feel the loss more than others. She said some have even asked her to go to the store in recent weeks.

“We forget that it's closed,” she said. She wants to see it reopen.

“I have to have my ice cream,” she said. “Please reopen it.”

Aaron Pisor, a freshman whose favorite order was an Oreo milkshake, said part of what made the shop a hit was that students barely had to leave campus to get there.

“It was really convenient,” he said.

Owen Wharf, a freshman whose favorite order was a milkshake or classic vanilla ice cream, said some will miss using the business as a meeting place before or after football games or other events.

“It was a landmark,” Owen said. “I really like it. It gave students a place to go.”

Steve Sybert of Middlesex Township, whose favorite order was a banana split, said students enjoyed stopping by the stall when he went to Butler schools in the 1960s. He said the visits were a little different then.

“The kids from Butler High used to go over there during school hours to get ice cream. We would go during lunch time,” Sybert said. “You're just stepping a line over school property.”

“We had our favorite teachers who would give you passes to go to the library, and so we would go over to Edwards' to get ice cream.”

Pam Gavinski, owner of the King Cones Castle on Evans City Road whose favorite order was a chocolate cone or a strawberry sundae, said she has seen franchise disputes like this before.

The Dairy Queen had its franchise revoked due to noncompliance regarding replacing the machines, according to its owner, Jim Edwards, shortly after closing.

“I feel kind of bad because they've been there forever, as long as back when I was a kid,” Gavinski said. “I know how hard it is to run under a franchise.”

Gavinski said small ice cream stalls are disappearing.

“I have a lot of customers who tell me they don't have anything in their area,” she said. “I think that's really strange.”

Some like Jeanne Glasgow of Butler, whose favorite order was a hot fudge peanut butter sundae, were surprised to see the stand shut down.

“I was disappointed,” she said. “My friend and I would come a lot and order a hot fudge peanut butter sundae. So much so, that they would see us, and they would just kind of nod and fix it.”

Glasgow said she remembered how in the 1960s the Edwards family owned not only the ice cream store, but also offered for rent cabins that sat behind the shop and a gas station that was on the lot where the AutoZone is now.

She said she has known the owners, Jim Edwards and his family, since raising her family around the corner from where the Edwards lived. She said she was surprised to hear about the issues they were having.

Glasgow said the noncompliance matter didn't line up with her perception of the business.

“Heaven knows there's not a DQ around that was as clean as this one,” Glasgow said. “Inside, outside, it was completely spotless.”

Glasgow's granddaughter, Mikayla Bernhard, a Butler High sophomore whose favorite order was a strawberry cheesecake blizzard, said the news traveled throughout the school with many speculating different reasons for its closing, and many sad at its departure.

“It was definitely mentioned a few times,” Mikayla said. She added many students are hoping the shop returns.

“I think every high school kid is,” Mikayla said.