National burger chain chews Florida debut

MANATEE COUNTY — Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, a Wichita, Kan.-based chain of eateries with locations in 14 states, will make its Florida debut in east Manatee County.

The freestanding location for the new Freddy's is a retrofitted Arby's in the Creekwood Crossing shopping center off State Road 70, just west of Interstate 75. The new restaurant will likely hire up to 75 employees, according to a statement, and it plans to add more sites in the region over the next few years.

“We are extremely excited to bring Freddy's great tastes and quality food to Bradenton,” franchise operator Cash Shelton says in the release.

The Manatee County Freddy's will bring the overall total of stores nationwide to nearly 100, the company says. Founded in 2002 and franchised in 2004, Freddy's is known for cooked-to-order steakburgers, shoestring fries and custard desserts. The chain, with locations built in 1940s and 1950s burger joint style, operates six corporate locations in the Wichita area and three in the Kansas City market. Other locations are spread from California to Pennsylvania.

The company has been named to Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list several times, and it also made the Inc. magazine 500/5000 for fast growth. “We are very grateful for this level of growth and for the guests who have such a strong affinity for our food,” Freddy's co-founder and COO Scott Redler says in the statement.