Freddy's Frozen Custard Florida Expansion Starts In Bradenton

Steakburger and custard fans in Bradenton will have a new place to dig in as soon as three weeks from now.

Wichita, Kansas-based Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers announced that it will open its first Florida store in Bradenton at the former Arby's, 7376 52nd Place East, in the Creekwood Crossing shopping center, west of Interstate 75.

The restaurant is aiming for an opening the week of April 22, said franchise owner Cash Shelton, but no official date has been set. 

“We are extremely excited to bring Freddy’s great tastes and quality food to Bradenton”, Shelton said.

Shelton is no stranger to Freddy's, the fast food business and the Sarasota/Bradenton area. He grew up in Wichita, but actually had his first Freddy's experience in Oklahoma when a friend introduced him to the restaurant.

In Wichita, his father Jack Shelton, started off with the boom of Pizza Hut in the 1960s by getting involved with the chain. The very first Pizza Hut is in Wichita, and it's the same location where Cash started out as a waiter.

His father also introduced him to Sarasota, bringing the family to Sarasota since 1994, where Jack would get involved with Sarasota Polo Club. Jack was also the former chairman of the U.S. Polo Association and has played competitive polo for more than 40 years. 

So the family connection and warm weather is what brings Cash Shelton to Bradenton with custard in tow.

"I figured if we we're going to open up, I'd do it where I'd enjoy living," he said.

Freddy's has less than 100 locations, and was founded in 2002 and soon started franchising locations in 2004. The chain was co-founded by Scott Redler, Bill, Randy and Freddy Simon in Kansas, offering Chicago dogs, steakburgers and frozen treats. Freddy's is now in 14 states, making Florida its 15th.

The Creekwood Crossing Arby's is being retrofitted and will add patio seating to compliment its drive-thru service, according to the restaurant chain. The Bradenton location plans to hire 75 people, according to Shelton, and more stores are planned for the region. Shelton owns the franchise rights from Bradenton south to Naples.

"I'd like to put a few others in this area before we go father south," he said. "We're actively looking for locations right now."

The chain could not only give chain Steak 'N Shake a run for its money on the Suncoast for the steakburgers, but local custard chain SweetBerries as well.

"It's almost a cult following," Shelton said of Freddy's. "It's very much like In-N-Out Burger was."

To Shelton, the grade of beef is higher than what competitors use, and is highlighted on the restaurant's signature double steakburger served with mustard, onion and pickles.

The custard is hand-dipped, but has a soft-serve consistency to it, Shelton explained.

"Our custard's made fresh every single day," he said. "It comes directly out of the machine and stored into five-gallon buckets, fresh throughout the day."

In addition to single-serving creations, pints and quarts are available for purchase, too, he said.

Freddy's also has a list of accomplishments for its business, including being named Inc. magazine's 500/500 list if Fastest Growing Private Companies, one of Business Insider's 8 Better Burger Chains Posted to Conquer America and named the fifth fastest growing chain restaurant in the U.S. and Canada by Chain Store Guide, a trade publication.

“We are very grateful for this level of growth and for the guests who have such a strong affinity for our food,” Chief Operating Officer Scott Redler said in a statement. “It is so gratifying for me to walk into one of our locations and see families and friends enjoying their steakburgers and Chicago dogs together or smiling and discussing their day over a Signature Turtle Sundae. We are honored to be a place that means enough to our guests to be included in their family time and life’s celebrations.”

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

7376 52nd Place East
Bradenton, FL 34203

941-755-1982