Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers was founded in 2002, and its first restaurant opened in Wichita, Kansas, in August of that year. The chain was started by brothers Bill and Randy Simon and their business partner, Scott Redler.
The name honors the brothers’ father, Freddy Simon. This article explains the founding, the people behind the restaurant, and how its menu and retro style fit the original concept. It also separates the company’s founding year from its first location’s opening date—a small distinction that can make the history easier to understand.
When was freddy’s frozen custard founded?
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers was founded in 2002. The company’s first restaurant opened in August 2002 in Wichita, Kansas. The founders were brothers Bill and Randy Simon and their business partner, Scott Redler.
Those two dates describe related but slightly different events. The business was founded in 2002, and its first shop began serving customers that August. The exact founding date is not usually given as a separate day, so 2002 is the clearest answer to the question of when the company was founded.
The Wichita location matters because Freddy’s began as a specific local restaurant, not as a chain that appeared across the country all at once. Its original idea combined steakburgers, frozen custard, and a nostalgic diner atmosphere. The restaurant’s name and menu were also tied to the Simon family’s history.
Who started Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers?
Freddy’s was founded by Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and Scott Redler. Bill and Randy were brothers; Redler was their business partner. Their collaboration brought together the family inspiration behind the name and the restaurant concept they developed for Wichita.
The founders chose a focused menu rather than trying to serve every kind of fast-food meal. Steakburgers and frozen custard became the signature items, supported by familiar sides and desserts. That clear identity gave customers a simple reason to recognize the restaurant and helped distinguish it from burger chains with broader menus.
The restaurant also used a throwback look and service style. Its references to classic American diners were part of the experience, not just decoration. The combination gave the brand a recognizable personality while keeping its main offer easy to explain: burgers, fries, and custard.
It is useful to separate the founders from the person the company commemorates. Freddy Simon is the namesake, but the business was founded by his sons and Redler. Naming the restaurant after Freddy honored him; it does not mean he was one of the restaurant’s three founders.
Why is the restaurant called Freddy’s?
The restaurant is named for Freddy Simon, the father of Bill and Randy Simon. The name pays tribute to him and gives the brand a personal connection to the family behind its founding. Freddy Simon was a World War II veteran, a detail that forms part of the company’s account of its inspiration.
The name also matches the restaurant’s old-fashioned visual style. “Freddy’s” sounds like a neighborhood diner or a family-run burger shop, which supports the nostalgic atmosphere the founders wanted to create. The retro details help tell a story, but they should not be mistaken for evidence that the chain itself dates back to the period it evokes.
Freddy’s was founded in 2002, even though its branding draws on an earlier era of American dining. The classic look is a design choice, not the age of the company. That distinction is a common source of confusion for people who see the vintage signs, uniforms, or menu references and assume the restaurant has a much longer operating history.
What did the first Freddy’s restaurant serve?
The original concept centered on two signature products: steakburgers and frozen custard. The name of the company makes that pairing clear. Steakburgers supplied the savory main item, while custard offered a rich, cold dessert that could be served on its own or in combinations.
Freddy’s describes its burgers as steakburgers, but that name does not mean every patty is a steak cut served intact. It refers to a burger-style sandwich made from ground beef. The label helps set the menu apart, while the familiar format makes it easy for customers to order.
Frozen custard is also different from ordinary ice cream. Both are frozen dairy desserts, but custard is made with egg yolk as an ingredient. That gives it a creamy texture and makes it a natural partner for a burger-and-fries meal. It is not simply another name for soft-serve ice cream.
The restaurant’s original appeal came from the combination of a focused menu and a recognizable setting. Customers could choose a burger meal or finish with custard, while the retro design reinforced the brand’s identity. This pairing remains central to how the chain is introduced to new customers.
Founding, opening, and growth: how the dates fit together
Company histories can use several dates that sound interchangeable but refer to different milestones. For Freddy’s, the most useful distinction is between its founding year and the opening of the first restaurant. The table below clarifies the main terms without suggesting that each one has a separate, publicly established day.
| Milestone | What it means | Freddy’s detail |
|---|---|---|
| Company founded | The business was established | 2002 |
| First restaurant opened | The first location began serving customers | Wichita, Kansas, in August 2002 |
| Namesake | The person honored in the restaurant’s name | Freddy Simon, father of Bill and Randy Simon |
| Franchising began | The brand began expanding through franchise operators | 2004 |
The table helps answer a practical question: if one source says “founded in 2002” and another emphasizes the August opening, those statements are consistent. One describes the company’s founding year; the other gives the month the first restaurant opened.
Freddy’s began franchising in 2004, two years after its first Wichita restaurant opened. Franchising lets approved operators open locations under a brand’s name and operating system. It differs from a company opening every new restaurant itself, and it is one reason a restaurant brand can expand beyond its original city.
Do not treat the year franchising began as the founding year. It marks a later stage in the company’s development. The first restaurant established the concept; franchising gave the business another way to grow.
How Freddy’s developed from a Wichita restaurant
Freddy’s started with one location in Wichita and later grew into a multi-location restaurant brand. That progression is more useful to understand than assuming the chain launched nationally in 2002. Its early years were about establishing the menu, customer experience, and operating approach before broader expansion.
The move into franchising in 2004 was an important step in that development. Franchise operators could bring the restaurant to new communities while following a shared brand concept. Expansion still requires more than a name and menu: each location needs trained staff, a suitable site, reliable food supply, and consistent preparation.
As the brand expanded, its signature combination remained the clearest link to the original Wichita restaurant. Steakburgers and frozen custard give customers a straightforward idea of what to expect. The retro-inspired setting adds another recognizable layer, but the core menu does most of the work in defining the business.
That growth story also explains why Freddy’s is often discussed as both a restaurant and a franchise brand. The first shop was a local business founded by the Simon brothers and Redler. The later franchise system helped carry the concept to more places, while the original founding year remained 2002.
What people often get wrong about Freddy’s history
The vintage look does not mean the chain is decades older
Freddy’s uses a nostalgic style, but the company was founded in 2002. The look refers to an earlier diner tradition; it does not show that the restaurant operated in that era. If you are comparing brand histories, rely on the founding and opening information rather than visual cues.
Freddy Simon was the namesake, not one of the three founders
The founders were Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and Scott Redler. Freddy Simon was honored through the restaurant’s name. Keeping those roles separate prevents a common mix-up when retelling the company’s origin.
“Founded” and “first opened” are related, but not identical
A company can be founded before its first location opens, and a restaurant history may report both milestones. For Freddy’s, the reliable short answer is founded in 2002; the first restaurant opened in Wichita in August 2002. There is no need to invent a specific day to make the answer sound more precise.
Franchising did not begin at the same time as founding
The first location opened in 2002, while the company began franchising in 2004. Those milestones show different stages of growth. Using the franchise date as the founding date would make the company seem two years younger than it was.
Quick answers about the founding
Was Freddy’s founded in 2002 or 2004?
Freddy’s was founded in 2002. The year 2004 is when the company began franchising, not when it was founded.
Where did Freddy’s open its first restaurant?
The first Freddy’s restaurant opened in Wichita, Kansas. It began serving customers in August 2002.
Who were the founders?
The founders were brothers Bill and Randy Simon and their business partner, Scott Redler.
Who was Freddy Simon?
Freddy Simon was the father of Bill and Randy Simon and the person honored in the restaurant’s name. He was a World War II veteran.
Was Freddy’s originally an ice cream shop?
No. Frozen custard was a signature part of the concept, but Freddy’s was built around both frozen custard and steakburgers. Its identity comes from that combination, rather than from being a dessert-only shop.
Why does the restaurant feel older than it is?
Its retro diner styling references an older period of American restaurant culture. The company itself began in 2002, so the vintage appearance is part of the brand concept rather than proof of an earlier founding.
How to describe Freddy’s founding accurately
If you need a concise and accurate description, say that Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers was founded in 2002 by Bill and Randy Simon and Scott Redler, and that its first restaurant opened in Wichita, Kansas, in August of that year. Add that the name honors Freddy Simon, the Simon brothers’ father, if the personal story is relevant.
This wording keeps the most useful facts together without overstating what is known. It avoids confusing the founding with the later start of franchising, and it does not claim an exact founding day that the commonly cited history does not establish.
For a school assignment, article, or brand comparison, it is also smart to use the company’s own history page or a reliable business reference when checking details. Company ownership and location counts can change, while the founding year and original Wichita opening are historical milestones. Confirm any newer business information separately rather than assuming that it has stayed the same.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers was founded in 2002 by Bill and Randy Simon and Scott Redler. Its first restaurant opened in Wichita that August, and the name honors Freddy Simon, the brothers’ father.
For a quick, accurate reference, keep the 2002 founding year separate from the 2004 start of franchising. If you share the history, include Wichita and the August opening as useful context without assigning an unverified exact day.