BIG FLATS, N.Y. (WENY) -- The Dairy Queen Grill & Chill in Big Flats is officially open for business. Despite the heavy traffic coming in from County Route 64, hungry customers were still able to order their beloved Blizzards. 

“For days...I mean, actually months...we've been planning on it,” Theresa Aponick, an Elmira resident, said.  

Aponick's children have been waiting to apply to work at the Dairy Queen, since they received word of its construction, nearly one year ago, today. Aponick knew it was going to be busy on opening day and that is why she planned ahead by parking behind Taco Bell, located right next to the new restaurant.  

“It looks like there's no more ways to get in,” she said. “They're going to be backed up all the way down the line. We chose to park over here...so, we're going to walk.”  

 Brian Ellison, an Elmira resident, has also been waiting a long time for a Dairy Queen to open near Elmira. Whenever Ellison had a craving for an Oreo Blizzard, he had to go on quite the road trip. 

“I used to drive to Rochester to go to Dairy Queen and now I don't have to drive two hours anymore,” he said. “I can finally drive...right in Elmira and enjoy it.” 

Star Clark and Matthew Swarthourt both thought it would be a good idea for a date night to head out to the grand opening and order everything they wanted from the menu. After looking at the line of cars in the drive thru, they decided they had better park in front of Taco Bell and walk over to the new restaurant. 

“Oh my gosh, we were waiting for at least a half an hour, but it was worth it,” Clark, a Watkins Glen resident, said. “I love Dairy Queen.”  

Although the lines were busy, inside and outside of the restaurant, everyone appeared to come out of the new restaurant with smiles on their faces. 

The Dairy Queen is located between Taco Bell and Applebee's on County Route 64.  

Opening hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.