The Dar-E-Kreme restaurant, a Cedar Hill landmark, has changed hands.
Don and Renee Basile of Affton, who had owned the restaurant since 1999, sold it to James and Angie Rowden of Hillsboro.
The restaurant, 7070 Hwy. BB, is known for its soft serve ice cream and other frozen treats, as well as its hamburgers and other fare.
Renee Basile said the last day she and her husband operated the business was March 28, and the sale closed on March 29.
James Rowden said he and his wife plan to reopen it April 11.
Renee said both she and her husband are 65, and they felt it was time to step away from the business.
“We’re just retiring,” she said. “We do not have any set plans other than visiting grandkids, taking time to see our grandkids.
“We have three girls and they all worked (at Dar-E-Kreme) at different times. We have four grandchildren, with one more on the way.”
The Rowdens are both 39.
Many community members visited the restaurant during the Basiles’ final days of ownership, between March 25 and on March 28, she said.
“It’s bittersweet,” she said. “There were a lot of tears that weekend. We had a lot of friends show up. We had a lot of families who came with their kids that grew up with us. We’d closed the dining room during COVID and opened it up for the last weekend.”
Even without indoor dining, the Basiles ran Dar-E-Kreme Tuesdays through Sundays throughout the year, no matter the weather conditions, Renee said.
The Basiles bought the restaurant nearly 24 years ago from the Gary Jones family.
Renee said her family has enjoyed operating Dar-E-Kreme all these years.
“We’ve touched a lot of people,” she said. “We’ve touched their hearts, they’ve touched ours.
“It’s a small community. They just welcomed us with open arms. I just want to thank everybody who supported us for 23 1/2 years.”
Rowdens to make a few tweeks
James Rowden said he and Angie plan to make a few changes to the business but none to the menu.
“We’re adding a patio with seating. We’re adding online ordering,” he said.
James said both he and his wife have other full-time jobs, so a staff of 10 will operate the restaurant under their supervision.
He said learned the Basiles were interested in selling the Dar-E-Kreme through the other business he owns, Legacy Service and Supply.
“(The Basiles) had been customers of mine for 15 years,” James said. “I service restaurant equipment (with Legacy).
“I thought this was a good opportunity. I want to see it stay local and stay in service.”
He said he and his wife will not have indoor seating.
The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and closed on Mondays.
For more information, call the restaurant at 636-285-3288, go to darekreme.com or visit the restaurant’s Facebook page.
