Nicole Alinger, left, and her friend Grace Ronayne laugh at the reaction of Alinger’s 20 month old son Teddy as he enjoys his ice cream at the Old Saybrook Dairy Queen on its first day of the 2024 season on March 17. The location has been run by the Lassen family for 52 years with Craig Lassen purchasing it in 1971 and his daughters Jennifer and Heather taking over in 1997. Wesley Bunnell / Harbor News

Finnoula Collins and her father Tim visit the Dairy Queen in Old Saybrook on its opening day for the 2024 season on March 17. The location has been run by the Lassen family for 52 years with Craig Lassen purchasing it in 1971 and his daughters Jennifer and Heather taking over in 1997. Wesley Bunnell / Harbor News

Michele and Jim Nekos stop by the Dairy Queen in Old Saybrook on its opening day of the 2024 season on March 17. The location has been run by the Lassen family for 52 years with Craig Lassen purchasing it in 1971 and his daughters Jennifer and Heather taking over in 1997. Wesley Bunnell / Harbor News

Stopping by the Dairy Queen in Old Saybrook on its opening day of the 2024 season are Bryan Alinger, left, Nicole Alinger, their 20 month old son Teddy and family friend Grace Ronayne. The location has been run by the Lassen family for 52 years with Craig Lassen purchasing it in 1971 and his daughters Jennifer and Heather taking over in 1997. Wesley Bunnell / Harbor News