Dairy Freeze Closes, And Another Door Opens: How The Backyard Grill’s Owners Plan To Reinvigorate A Beloved Local Restaurant

NORTH BEACH, Md. — Almost 30 years ago, the owners of Dairy Freeze started out with a dream. Now, they’re passing the torch to new owners who share their passion for cooking, ice cream, and serving the community.

Michael “Mike” and Tina McLane plan to open The Backyard Grill at 8831 Chesapeake Ave., North Beach, Md. They’re preparing for a spring 2026 opening, cautiously aiming to be open for St. Patrick’s Day festivities in town.

The Backyard Grill will serve American food—what Mike McLane describes as “typical backyard stuff” like burgers and hot dogs. They’ll also have barbecue and will start slow with pulled pork, chicken, turkey, and ham before adding more menu items.

“We want to do something we love and try to bring some good food to the community,” McLane told The BayNet. “I’m the type of person who cooks food the way I want to eat it. I’m gonna feed people the way I wanna be fed, and it’ll be fairly priced.”

McLane said he’s also hoping to add pizza to the menu in the future. Both he and Tina used to work at Grizyl’s in Upper Marlboro in the early ’90s and still make the restaurant’s famous “Porky’s Revenge” pizza at home.

The work at Grizyl’s made McLane fall in love with cooking, a passion he’s passed on to his son, Joe, who is partnering with his parents to make The Backyard Grill a reality.

“He’s always trying to out-cook me,” McLane said with a laugh, though he describes his own cooking as more daring.

And it’s clear that building a family business that’s entrenched in the community is top of mind for the McLanes. While their approach is more modern and has today’s North Beach residents in mind, their ultimate goal is to create something for their son and for their neighbors. They’re mindful of both the legacy they’re inheriting and the one they’re passing on.

One bridge between the past and future is Joshua Kennerly, son of the Dairy Freeze owners, who is partnering with the McLanes to keep ice cream on the premises through a new venture, Holy Cow Creamery.

Through Holy Cow, The Backyard Grill will have soft serve and more than 20 flavors of hard ice cream. Kennerly has partnered with a dairy farm in Pennsylvania to bring “the freshest ice cream possible” to the store, and with Always Ice Cream for their innovative, modern flavors. Holy Cow will offer treats like fresh Belgian waffles and waffle cone chip nachos, and will have rotating flavors.

“Cow to Cone” is the mission. And with ice cream top of mind for the patrons who will miss their beloved Dairy Freeze, all involved hope that North Beach is ready to embrace this change.

It’s a change for the store and for the town, but for the McLanes, it’s more of a homecoming. Mike McLane grew up visiting his grandparents in the area and moved to Calvert after high school, where he’s built a life and raised his own family. He wasn’t quite sure how his dream would pan out, but taking over the Dairy Freeze location was better than he could have imagined. Stewarding the shop into the next phase of its life—and being trusted to do so by friends—is a gift.

Both McLanes say that out of everything, what they’re most looking forward to is being a part of the community; they can’t wait to get involved in fundraisers and events, and are ready to get to know everyone who comes into their store.

“It’s exciting that we’ve been able to build such great friendships with people that they’re giving us the opportunity for my husband and son to build something together,” said Tina McLane, who describes herself as the “behind-the-scenes” arm of the operation. “Dairy Freeze has been there for 27 years. We’re hoping The Backyard Grill will be in the community for another 27 or more.”

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