A vacant lot in the 2800 block of Veterans Memorial Drive in Mount Vernon is about to become home to a new drive-up frozen custard stand called The Dairy Bell, with walk-up service, picnic tables under the trees, and an antique bell as decoration. The stand is the project of Steven and Teresa Sheridan, who formerly owned and operated Sheridan Concrete and are now moving from cement to custard.
A Family Legacy Shifts From Concrete to Custard
The Sheridans' new venture, first reported by the Mt. Vernon Morning Sentinel, will not be a dine-in restaurant, but rather a seasonal drive-up and walk-up operation built for quick service. Teresa Sheridan described The Dairy Bell as a seasonal custard stand and quick food service business, according to the same report. The couple hopes to open next June, and the project has drawn a positive community response from neighbors, the outlet notes.
The Sheridan name has deep roots in Mount Vernon's building trades. Steven Sheridan's father, Gerald “Jerry” Sheridan, ran Sheridan Concrete in the city for 40 years before retiring, according to an obituary published by Hughey Funeral Home. That four-decade run in contracting now gives way to a family business built on frozen desserts rather than poured foundations.
A Name Tied to Mount Vernon's Past
The Dairy Bell's name is a direct nod to the historical Dairy Del, a drive-up ice cream shop that once stood at the northwest corner of 10th Street and Newby in Mount Vernon. Local historical archives place the original Dairy Del at that intersection during the late 1960s and 1970s, according to the Mount Vernon Register-News. Teresa Sheridan's mother worked at Dairy Del back in the late 1950s, per the same report from the Morning Sentinel, adding a personal thread of nostalgia to the new stand's branding.
The connection to the past extends to the decor as well. The stand will feature an antique bell dating to between 1882 and 1894, tying the new business's look to Mount Vernon's older architectural history even as it serves a modern menu.
What's on the Menu, and What Makes Custard Different
The Dairy Bell will serve ice cream, frozen custard, sandwiches, chips, and fries, giving customers both classic frozen treats and quick bites. Frozen custard is not simply a marketing term: under Federal Food and Drug Administration regulations codified in 21 CFR 135.110, a product must contain at least 10% milkfat and a minimum of 1.4% egg yolk solids by weight to legally be labeled frozen custard rather than standard ice cream, according to the eCFR. Commercial frozen custard also relies on specialized churning equipment designed to minimize overrun, the air incorporated during freezing, resulting in a denser product with lower air content compared to soft-serve ice cream, per Michael's Pizza.
The lot itself will keep much of its natural character. Teresa Sheridan said the lot has many large trees that will mostly be preserved, and the finished stand will include a picnic area with tables under those trees, along with patio lighting for evening customers.
City Council Rezoned the Property in August
The project cleared a key municipal hurdle last month when the Mount Vernon City Council approved an ordinance rezoning the Veterans Memorial Drive property for The Dairy Bell in August 2026. The council, which consists of the mayor and four council members elected to four-year terms, is the municipal body responsible for approving land-use reclassifications and commercial zoning permits, according to the City of Mt. Vernon. Mayor John Lewis, who outlined commercial expansion plans in his 2026 State of the City address, said the city supports investment in the community.
The 2800 block of Veterans Memorial Drive, also known as Illinois Route 15, is one of Mount Vernon's principal commercial corridors, connecting city neighborhoods to regional retail hubs and interstate access ramps, per the city's economic development office. That location puts the stand within reach of steady commuter traffic, since Mount Vernon sits at the junction of Interstates 57 and 64 and functions as a major Southern Illinois transportation hub anchored by industrial employers such as Continental Tire's 3,500-worker manufacturing plant. The city's workforce also includes Good Samaritan Hospital, with 1,484 employees, and the Walgreens Distribution Center, with 2,138 employees, both of which drive regular daytime commuter traffic through municipal arterial roads.
Jobs and Management for the Seasonal Stand
The Dairy Bell may create upwards of 10 new jobs once it opens, and the Sheridans have already lined up management. Alex Metje and Amanda Headen will manage the stand, with Headen telling the Morning Sentinel that The Dairy Bell is intended to benefit the community and bring jobs to the area.
Mount Vernon, known locally as The King City, has a population of 14,600 according to the 2020 Census and serves as the county seat of Jefferson County, per the U.S. Census Bureau. For a city of that size, a seasonal custard stand promising a handful of new jobs and a slice of local nostalgia is the kind of small-scale investment city leaders have said they want to see more of along the town's commercial corridors.
