Omaha Exploration

The beloved little ice cream shop at 3223 N 204th Street in Elkhorn started its life as a part of the Dairy Sweet chain in 1969. In those days it seems there was a Dairy Sweet or similar ice cream shop in virtually every small town in Nebraska. 

Much of its early history remains a mystery to me but from what I could gather, its name changed to the one we recognize today – Dairy Chef – around 1982 and maybe even earlier. I suspect the name change was to emphasize that the shop offered more than just ice cream. 

The store’s third and current owner, Mike Ozmun, bought the restaurant in 2013. At that point, its owner was ready to retire and close the shop down for good. Not only a regular customer of Dairy Chef, Mike was a self proclaimed foodie that sought to breathe new life into the business and expand upon its culinary options. 

He traveled across the country to find inspiration for the menu which includes a variety of burgers including the Big Mike with roast beef, nacho cheese and bacon as well as the pizza burger. You’ll also find sandwiches including roast beef, barbecue beef, pork tenderloin, crispy chicken and a BLT. Of course it also has fast food staples such as chicken tenders and french fries. As one would expect from a someone infatuated with food, most of the menu items are from scratch. 

The soft serve ice cream remains the same as it has been for decades. Among its popular and generous ice cream offerings are ice cream cones and signature storms (its version of a DQ Blizzard) including my favorite the BFF with vanilla ice cream, chocolate shell and salted caramel. Of course you’ll find sundaes, banana splits, cookie sandwiches made with homemade cookies, frozen bananas as well as dairy-free, gluten-free and nut-free options.

The family run business is one that continually makes improvements. Recently that includes renovating and expanding the patio space, adding more seating outside and adding shade in the hot summer months. The emphasis on the outdoor space makes sense given there are just a few tables inside the small building. In the peak summer months you’ll find people standing, sitting at a picnic table, sitting in a lawn chair or on a blanket or even the tailgate of a pickup truck. 

Mentioned among the best ice cream shops by The Reader and Omaha Magazine in recent years, it retains its old school feel in which you walk up and order through a window rather than a drive-thru. Its popularity can be witnessed by the long lines that form out front. With many businesses having difficulty hiring employees, Dairy Chef doesn’t have that problem as it remains a popular employer for teenagers in the area during summer break. 

The Ozum family’s dedication to the business and the community has resulted in legions of fans from young to old and from students to employees at the nearby businesses to church goers and retirees. In addition to supporting local schools and businesses, Dairy Chef also hosts community events such as outdoor movie nights called Flix at the Chef out back of its building. 

Noting the resentment over Omaha’s annexation of Elkhorn in 2007, its owner once said that they focus on the nostalgia while maintaining its small town feel. The ice cream shop typically opens around mid-March and continues to operate through mid-October. They also do occasional pop-ups during the offseason. 

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