1851

Michelle Robey and Patricia Nappo started working side-by-side as teenagers. After working at a local restaurant in Center Moriches, each sister went her separate way to an industry that showcased their individual business strengths. Robey gravitated towards bookkeeping, which ultimately led her to a career in accounting and finance. Nappo worked her way up the ranks in the operations sector and spent 20 years working for a multi-unit McDonald&rsquo;s franchisee. Through this experience, Nappo was nominated for the Ray Kroc Award twice, winning once. From the beginning, the sisters knew their professional paths would cross again, both dreaming to co-own a Long Island restaurant one day.

The sisters heard that <a href="https://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/Company/Franchise-With-Us/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=long-island-sisters-open-first-dairy-queen-restaurant-together-to-achieve-life-goal-2705347" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">American Dairy Queen Corporation</a> (ADQ) was looking to expand in the Long Island market with the <a href="http://dairyqueen.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=long-island-sisters-open-first-dairy-queen-restaurant-together-to-achieve-life-goal-2705347" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DQ Grill &amp; Chill</a> concept and thought it was the perfect time for their professional lives to intersect again. &nbsp;

&ldquo;The Dairy Queen brand represents family values and has that nostalgic feeling associated with each location,&rdquo; said Robey. &ldquo;It was the perfect match for two family members who wanted to go into business together.&rdquo;

In Suffolk County, where both sisters currently reside, there is only one existing DQ Grill &amp; Chill location. The sisters decided to open their location in Medford, NY, nearly 30 minutes away from Suffolk County, tapping into an open market for the DQ&reg; brand.

&ldquo;We have been looking to expand throughout Long Island for a while,&rdquo; noted Mike Mettler, ADQ VP of Franchise Sales and Development &ldquo;After talking with Michelle and Patricia we could sense their passion, commitment and excitement, not only for the brand, but also for bringing it to their hometown. We are excited to be able to support them both as they live out this life-long dream.&rdquo;

Robey and Nappo met with representatives from ADQ in 2013 to initially start the franchising process, only to be held up with various city issues including zoning codes, roadway widening and additional unforeseen complications. Due to the excitement and high demand for the new business in Medford, Robey and Nappo worked profusely with city officials to get everything squared away for a quicker opening.

&ldquo;Many people ask me how I stayed so positive and committed through the process,&rdquo; said Robey. &ldquo;Time will pass regardless, but I knew once everything was cleared away I would be owning my own DQ Grill &amp; Chill restaurant with my sister and fulfilling a lifelong dream. It never crossed my mind to give up during the process.&rdquo;

Robey and Nappo&rsquo;s excitement has been infectious in the community. The new DQ Grill &amp; Chill restaurant is located at Route 112 in Medford, which is one of the busiest intersections in town, sitting adjacent to the Medford Athletic Complex.

&ldquo;The community is so excited to have a wholesome place to come and eat with their families while they are out shopping, around town or after their children&rsquo;s sports games at the Medford Athletic Complex,&rdquo; said Robey. &ldquo;We have confirmation from our Councilman that there will be a path built directly from the complex to our DQ location.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Not only will the new restaurant provide a great place for local community members to gather, but it will also provide many job opportunities in the market.

&ldquo;Since Patricia and I both started working when we were younger, we are big advocates for hiring teenagers,&rdquo; mentioned Robey. &ldquo;So far, we have hired over 90 people, including many between the ages of 14 to 17 years-old. We also hire employees with special needs who have job coaches.&rdquo;

The sisters&rsquo; DQ Grill &amp; Chill restaurant opened on Dec. 31 in Medford, NY right in time to kick off 2018 on a positive note. &nbsp;&nbsp;

&ldquo;We opened during one of the coldest weeks on record in Medford and our sales still exceeded all expectations,&rdquo; said Robey. &ldquo;Three weeks later our sales are still rising. We are very excited for what spring and summer will bring.&rdquo;

To learn more about franchising opportunities with Dairy Queen, please visit: <a href="https://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/Company/Franchise-With-Us/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=long-island-sisters-open-first-dairy-queen-restaurant-together-to-achieve-life-goal-2705347" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/Company/Franchise-With-Us/</a>

Long Island Sisters Open First Dairy Queen Restaurant Together to Achieve Life Goal

1851 Franchise

Michelle Robey and Patricia Nappo make their dream of working together a reality and open a DQ Grill & Chill® restaurant in their hometown.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

long-island-sisters-open-first-dairy-queen-restaurant-together-to-achieve-life-goal

BooXkeeping

BooXkeeping Closes Out a Breakout 2025 With Major Wins and Momentum for 2026

booxkeeping-2025-growth-franchise-expansion-2026-momentum

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Franchise - Eli and Abby Power - 1851 Franchise

Eli and Abby Power Turned a Rural Plumbing Shop Into a Multi-Generational Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Franchise

benjamin-frankling-plumbing-franchise-eli-abby-power-western-colorado

Image Studios

IMAGE Studios Celebrates Record Growth in 2025 With 35 Openings and 50 Units Awarded

image-studios-franchise-growth-2025

Dillas Quesadillas

Design with photo of Michael Mabry and Dillas Primo Quesadillas logo

Franchise Times: New Franchise Exec Says Dillas Is Bringing ‘Excitement’ Back to QSR Category

michael-mabry-franchise-growth

Lawn Squad

Greener, Faster, Smarter: Why Entrepreneurs Are Choosing Lawn Squad 

Greener, Faster, Smarter: Why Entrepreneurs Are Choosing Lawn Squad as a Treatment-Only Lawn Care Franchise

lawn-squad-franchise-opportunity

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

California Pizza Kitchen’s Sale Is the Latest in the Era of PE-Backed Turnarounds in Franchising

california-pizza-kitchens-sale-is-the-latest-in-the-era-of-pe-backed-turnarounds-in-franchising

Buying a fitness franchise, people exercising

Boutique vs. Big Box Gym Franchises: Which Offers Best ROI in the $7 Billion Fitness Market?

buy-fitness-franchise-boutique-big-box-comparison

Pieology Pizza Enters Chapter 11 Following Costly Bid To Save Struggling Stores

pieology-pizza-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy

CNBC: McDonald’s Will Assess if Franchisees Are Offering Value for Customers Under New Standards

mcdonalds-franchise-standards-value-metric

How AI Is Transforming Restaurant Operations and Franchises

ai-impact-restaurants-franchises-human-centric-technology

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Eli Cohen, Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

C5 Restaurants Grows its Texas Footprint with 40 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Locations Planned Statewide

eli-cohen-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

image of stephen westerman and matthew westerman, owners Fort Walton Beach Two men and a junk truck

Twin Brothers Move From Managers to Owners with New TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK Franchise on the Gulf Coast

twin-brothers-two-men-and-a-junk-truck-fort-walton-beach

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

What Makes Mellow Mushroom a Strong Franchise Investment? Insights From the Panos Family’s Metro Atlanta Portfolio

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

AI-related job cuts, October U.S. job cuts, American job cut record

AI-Fueled Layoffs Reshape the U.S. Job Market — And Highlight Franchising’s Resilience

ai-job-cuts-franchising-path-forward

Paris Baguette Welcomes Zac Sulma as New Chief Operating Officer

new-coo-zac-sulma

Long Island Sisters Open First Dairy Queen Restaurant Together to Achieve Life Goal

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS