Taha Momin and his mom Nadera Momin, owners of Decatur’s Dairy Queen, discuss the store’s future on Monday, Feb. 17. Photo by: Dan Whisenhunt

The owners of the Decatur Dairy Queen say that there’s been some progress negotiating with their new landlords.

On Monday, Feb. 17, the Momin family wasn’t sure if they’d return to Decatur after their store gets razed to build a new apartment complex. They didn’t have a lease and felt like they missed an opportunity to buy the building because the city talked them out of it.

Lyn Menne, assistant city manager in charge of economic development, said the city has tried to work with the Momins to keep them as part of the new development. She said the developer of the project, Centro Development, has offered the Momins a below market rate.

Taha Momin, the son of the owner, said the developer reached out to them after Decaturish published an article about their situation on Feb. 18.

“We have heard from the developer,” he said. “They’re willing to talk now.”

The developer previously declined to comment on this story, because they are still in negotiations with the Momins.

City spokeswoman Casie Yoder declined additional comment, saying, “This is still a work in progress between the two private parties.”

Click here to see the previous article about this story.

The hullabaloo over the DQ might seem silly to outsiders, but the store and its owners are beloved by many in Decatur. It has been in business for 30 years, well before Decatur’s recent revival as a cool, urban locale. Many of the store’s most loyal customers have been going there since they were children.

Taha Momin said it’s not a guarantee that the Dairy Queen will return when the apartments open in 15 to 18 months, but said his family is feeling “a little bit more relief.”

The current DQ’s last day is tomorrow, Feb. 22. The doors open at 10:30 am.

The DQ’s return date is still to be determined.

UPDATE: Chris Billingsley sent along this photo of the line at the DQ tonight. Decatur residents are out in force.