Campbell's News
Campbell’s Dairyland Begins a New Chapter in Brandon
Campbell’s Dairyland is preserving more than 40 years of Brandon history while beginning a new chapter with local family ownership.
Campbell’s Dairyland has been a Brandon tradition since 1985. After more than 40 years with the Campbell family, the beloved local restaurant entered a new chapter in August 2026 when Chris and Karrie Mueller purchased the business.
The name is staying. The history matters. The longtime favorites are still part of Campbell’s. And the goal for the future is simple: preserve what Brandon loves while giving this local landmark the care, investment and attention it needs for the next generation.
Why Is Campbell’s Dairyland So Important to Brandon?
Campbell’s Dairyland is more than a restaurant and ice cream shop.
Since Boyd and Pam Campbell opened the business in 1985, Campbell’s has been part of everyday life in Brandon. Families have stopped here after school, after church and after ball games. Teenagers have worked their first jobs here. Couples have shared first dates. Parents who grew up eating Campbell’s ice cream now bring their own children and grandchildren.
That kind of history cannot be recreated.
It is one of the biggest reasons we wanted Campbell’s to remain Campbell’s.
How Did Campbell’s Dairyland Begin?
The Campbell’s story began when Boyd Campbell found himself looking for a new direction after losing the sales job he had held for more than 20 years.
Around that time, Boyd was selling hot dogs topped with his father’s family chili recipe at local events, including the Brandon Balloon Festival and Wagon Wheel Flea Market.
When he learned that the local Dairy Isle was available for purchase, Boyd and his wife, Pam, took a chance.
They purchased the restaurant in 1985 and opened Campbell’s Dairy Isle.
What began with hot dogs and ice cream eventually grew into the large menu Brandon knows today, filled with burgers, sandwiches, salads, wings, fried vegetables, milkshakes, sundaes and other longtime favorites.
When the Dairy Isle franchise agreement later ended, the restaurant became Campbell’s Dairyland.
The Campbell family created a new logo featuring Boyd with his hot dog cart and his grandchildren Drew and Rebecca. That family history remains part of Campbell’s identity today.
How Did Campbell’s Become a Family Tradition?
Campbell’s was a family business from the beginning.
Children, sons-in-law and grandchildren eventually joined Boyd and Pam at the restaurant, creating a true multigenerational operation.
In 1998, Boyd and Pam retired and passed the business to the next generation.
Over the years, the family continued the menu customers already loved while creating new favorites of their own. Several recognizable Campbell’s items were developed during that period, including the Caribbean Salad, Campbell’s Chocolate Chiller, Mocha Latte and Campbell’s Buffalo Chicken Wing Sauce.
But the Campbell family was never the only family that made this restaurant special.
The employees, longtime customers and Brandon community became part of the story too.
What Happened to Campbell’s Dairyland in 2002?
Campbell’s history also includes a moment that showed just how much the restaurant meant to Brandon.
In November 2002, a fire broke out in the kitchen during the night. The kitchen was destroyed, the front of the restaurant was badly damaged and the building had to be gutted and rebuilt.
The Brandon community rallied around the Campbell family.
Customers offered encouragement, prayers and support while the restaurant was rebuilt.
Campbell’s reopened in July 2003.
The same crew came back.
And so did the customers.
That chapter remains an important part of the relationship between Campbell’s and Brandon.
Why Did Chris and Karrie Mueller Buy Campbell’s Dairyland?
When the Campbell family decided it was time to retire in 2026, they wanted Campbell’s to continue.
For us, that was one of the most important parts of the opportunity.
We are a local family with experience owning and operating established ice cream shops and restaurants. We understand that buying a longtime community business is different from opening something new.
You are not starting with a blank canvas.
You are becoming responsible for someone else’s memories.
Campbell’s already had a name, personality, menu and history. We did not buy it because we wanted to turn it into something else.
We bought it because we believed Campbell’s deserved another chapter.
Is Campbell’s Dairyland Changing Its Name?
No.
Campbell’s Dairyland will remain Campbell’s Dairyland.
The name represents more than 40 years of Brandon history, and there is no reason to erase that.
The Campbell’s identity, family story and familiar traditions will continue to be part of the restaurant.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About the New Campbell’s Dairyland
No. The goal is to preserve what customers love while making thoughtful improvements to the property, equipment and overall experience.
Yes. Campbell’s Dairyland will remain Campbell’s Dairyland.
Campbell’s will continue offering the broad mix of food and desserts that has always made the restaurant different. Menus naturally evolve over time, but preserving longtime favorites and the variety Campbell’s is known for remains important.
Yes. Campbell’s Dairyland is locally and family owned.
Campbell’s Dairyland is located at 200 S. Parsons Ave. in Brandon, Florida.
Campbell’s has been serving the Brandon community since 1985.
What Changes Are Coming to Campbell’s Dairyland?
Some things do need attention.
A restaurant that has been operating for more than four decades naturally needs continued investment, maintenance and updates.
We have already begun working on areas throughout Campbell’s, including equipment, air conditioning, paint, lighting, flooring and exterior spaces.
We are also restoring some of the playful features that have always made Campbell’s fun for families.
The goal is not to strip away the nostalgia.
It is to bring it back to life.
What Is the New Look for Campbell’s?
As we began looking through old Campbell’s photos, signs and artwork, something became very clear.
The restaurant has always had a playful Americana personality.
The balloons, rides, characters, red and blue colors and family atmosphere reminded us of the feeling of an old-fashioned boardwalk.
That became the inspiration for the next visual chapter of Campbell’s.
We call it Vintage Boardwalk Americana.
You will see Campbell’s traditional royal blue and vintage red paired with warm cream tones, classic signage, restored original-inspired characters and subtle boardwalk details.
It should feel nostalgic without feeling outdated.
Fun without becoming a theme park.
Most importantly, it should still feel like Campbell’s.
What About the Original Campbell’s Mascots?
They are part of the history too.
While looking through old Campbell’s materials, we rediscovered original characters including Shakie, Sundae, Willie, Chillie, Chburger and Frenchy.
Rather than inventing an entirely new cast of characters, we are using those originals as inspiration.
A professional artist will help bring them back while preserving the personality of the characters people remember.
That is exactly how we want to approach Campbell’s overall.
Restore what deserves to be restored.
Improve what needs improving.
And create new memories without erasing the old ones.
What Can Brandon Expect Next?
There is a lot ahead.
You will see continued improvements to the restaurant, refreshed spaces, restored family-friendly features, seasonal specials, new creative treats and plenty of Campbell’s classics.
Some changes will be immediately noticeable.
Others will happen gradually.
But every decision starts with the same question:
Does this make Campbell’s better without taking away what makes Campbell’s special?
That is the standard.
The Next Chapter Is Already Beginning
Owning a restaurant with more than 40 years of history comes with a responsibility we take seriously.
There will always be opinions about change, especially when a place holds this many memories.
We understand that.
But preserving a longtime business does not mean freezing it in time.
It means caring enough about it to keep investing in it.
Campbell’s has survived changing generations, changing tastes and even a devastating fire.
Its story has never been about staying exactly the same.
It has been about continuing.
And that is exactly what we intend to do.
Come See What’s Happening at Campbell’s
Whether you have been coming to Campbell’s since the Dairy Isle days or you just discovered us, we hope you will be part of what comes next.
Come grab a burger.
Stay for a milkshake.
Bring the kids.
Tell us your Campbell’s memories.
And keep making new ones with us.
Campbell’s Dairyland
200 S. Parsons Ave.
Brandon, FL 33511
A Brandon Tradition Since 1985.
Good Food. Great Treats. Great Times.
More From Campbell’s
More Good Stuff.
Visit
The Full Campbell’s History
Explore more than four decades of family history, from Dairy Isle beginnings through rebuilding and today.
Visit
View the Menu
Burgers, hot dogs, salads, milkshakes, sundaes, and the classics Brandon comes back for.
See You Soon
Reading’s Good. Ice Cream’s Better.
Come see what’s waiting at Campbell’s — from burgers and fries to shakes, sundaes, and something sweet.
A Brandon Tradition Since 1985