Lorraine Longhi | The Republic | azcentral.com

Jennifer Hibbard bought her first home in south Scottsdale near 68th and Oak streets in 2001.

On Friday, she shed tears as crews dismantled the site of the old Polynesian Dairy Queen, a longtime staple of the area.

The unique tiki-themed structure was built in 1964 and housed a Dairy Queen until the mid-1980s. Through the years, an Enterprise car rental and RV rental occupied the space. In more recent years, it has sat empty.

The land is now owned by Don Drake, who owns Western Honda Powersports next door. The building was dismantled after Drake discovered the interior was not usable due to asbestos, according to general manager Jason Dearchs.

"There was nothing happening with it," Hibbard said. "I wish it would just stay here, but I'm excited that they're going to reuse the structure."

The A-frame of the building was taken apart, and will be used as part of a new restaurant concept planned for an aging shopping center in south Scottsdale.

Tom Frenkel of Clayton Companies is redeveloping the small plaza near Hayden and Osborn roads, including with a portion of the dismantled building. The 4,000-square-foot restaurant will incorporate the Polynesian-style peaked roof, according to the architect.

The A-frame, originally called the Polynesian Queen, is 36 feet high, and would be difficult to move as one piece. Construction crews on Friday broke down pieces of the frame to move it.

Saving Scottsdale's history

Hibbard learned that the property would potentially be marked for demolition last year and put out a call on social media to save the building.

About 20 people reached out, including Frenkel, she said.

"Everybody wanted to do it, but nobody had the ability," Hibbard said. "He was the first one that had the willingness and the ability to do it."

Scottsdale City Councilwoman Suzanne Klapp, who watched as the A-frame was dismantled, said she had been talking to Frenkel about plans for the new project.

"We always speculated about what's going to happen to it," Klapp said. "It's exciting."

Courtesy of Aline Architecture Concepts

What's planned

Plans for the A-frame's new home, at 3215 N. Hayden Road, are still moving through the city's design review board, but construction on the project is expected to start by the end of the year, according to principal architect Brian Laubenthal.

Existing tenants in the space, such as the Local Donut, will remain at the plaza during renovation, Laubenthal said.

The new development will feature new parking lots, courtyards, patios and paved paths, as well as lush landscaping to fit the Polynesian theme of the new building, according to planning documents.

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The new building will incorporate design aspects that were found in the original building, including lava rock.

"You don't see much of that around the Valley," Laubenthal said of the frame. "The idea for the new development is to keep the original aesthetic of the building but create something in this community that people can walk to and help the growth of that area."