Bob and Ioane Schmidt have owned the Rugby Dairy Queen for the past 23 years, but come next year the well-known business will change hands.

John and Kim Lovcik, Rugby, are purchasing the franchise restaurant.

“My wife always wanted to be a DQ owner,” John said. “She was checking on-line one day and noticed the Rugby DQ was for sale, so we pursued it.”

The sale of the restaurant will become official in early January, and the couple will attend training in Nebraska next month at the International Dairy Queen franchise system headquarters. During that time the restaurant will be closed. The Lovciks plan to open in early February.

John has been involved in partnership with the Pine Ridge Turkey Farm south of Rugby. The couple initially moved to Rugby in 2000 from Devils Lake. They then moved to Rolla in 2002 and returned to Rugby about a year and half ago.

The Schmidts and long-time DQ manager Gwen Kleespie thank all their loyal customers for their patronage over the 23 years. Schmidt said some promotions are planned this month, including customers can receive a free ice cream cone by coming in with a receipt from any other Rugby business. In addition to owning that restaurant, the Schmidts have owned and operated Bob’s Pizza Inn for 25 years.

Schmidt said Kleespie and Mandy Wurgler, managers of the Dairy Queen, will transfer over to manage Bob’s Pizza.