who made freddy’s frozen custard? Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002 by brothers Bill and Randy Simon and restaurant operator Scott Redler. The chain’s name honors the brothers’ father, Freddy Simon.
The founders brought together a family connection and restaurant experience to create a fast-casual restaurant centered on steakburgers, shoestring fries, and frozen custard. Here’s who each founder was, why the restaurant carries Freddy’s name, and how its custard fits into the story.
who made freddy’s frozen custard?
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers was founded by Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and Scott Redler. The three opened the first restaurant in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002. Bill and Randy were brothers, while Redler brought years of restaurant-industry experience to the partnership.
The name came from the Simon brothers’ father, Freddy Simon. He was not one of the restaurant’s founders, but the brothers chose to honor him by naming the business after him. So the short answer depends on what you mean by “made”: the three founders created the restaurant concept, and Freddy Simon inspired its name.
That distinction clears up a common mix-up. Freddy Simon was the person honored by the brand, while Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and Scott Redler established the chain.
Who were the three founders?
The founding team combined two kinds of contribution: a family connection to the name and practical restaurant know-how. The Simons brought the family identity, and Redler brought extensive experience in the restaurant business. Together, they opened the first location in Wichita.
| Person | Connection to Freddy’s | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Simon | Co-founder and one of the Simon brothers | Helped establish the restaurant with his brother and Redler. |
| Randy Simon | Co-founder and one of the Simon brothers | Helped build the business and connected its name to their father. |
| Scott Redler | Co-founder and experienced restaurant operator | Brought restaurant-industry experience to the founding partnership. |
| Freddy Simon | Namesake, not a restaurant founder | His name gave the business its family-centered identity. |
The table separates the roles that are easy to conflate. The founders were the people who started the restaurant; Freddy was the person whose name it carries.
Bill and Randy Simon
Bill and Randy Simon were brothers who wanted to create a restaurant honoring their father. The family connection is the reason Freddy’s does not take its name from a type of burger, a place, or a corporate owner. The brand’s name points back to Freddy Simon and the family behind the original idea.
It is best to avoid adding details about the brothers’ personal lives or specific duties unless a reliable source confirms them. Public descriptions of the founding identify them as co-founders, but they do not always assign a precise day-to-day role to each brother. Calling both co-founders is accurate without guessing at a division of labor.
Scott Redler
Scott Redler was the third co-founder. His restaurant background complemented the Simon brothers’ family connection and helped shape the business as a restaurant operation, rather than simply a family tribute. The combination of founder roles is an important part of the origin story: Freddy inspired the name, but the founders built the company.
Why is the restaurant called Freddy’s?
Freddy’s is named for Freddy Simon, the father of Bill and Randy Simon. The brothers used his name as a tribute when they started the restaurant with Scott Redler. That is why the brand name refers to a person, even though many customers first encounter it through the food.
The name also helps distinguish two questions: who the business honors and who created it. Freddy Simon is the namesake; Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and Scott Redler are the founders. If you see Freddy credited as the founder, that usually mixes up those two roles.
The company is also called Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Its full name describes two central parts of the menu: frozen custard and steakburgers. “Freddy’s” is the shortened brand name used in everyday conversation.
Where and when did Freddy’s begin?
The first Freddy’s opened in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002. Wichita is the key location in the chain’s origin story, not just one of its later markets. The restaurant began as a local business before expanding into a larger chain.
The founders’ choice of Wichita gave the brand a clear starting point, but it does not mean every current location follows an identical local menu or operating arrangement. Individual restaurants may be operated under different business arrangements, and menus or availability can vary by location.
As Freddy’s grew, its name and menu reached customers well beyond the first restaurant. That expansion can make the business feel like a long-established national brand, but the simple origin facts remain: three founders, a Wichita opening, and a name honoring Freddy Simon.
What made the restaurant different?
Freddy’s was built around a combination of familiar American fast-casual foods: steakburgers, fries, and frozen custard. The pairing is central to how the chain presents itself. A steakburger is a burger made with beef; the term does not mean the patty is a steak cut served whole.
Frozen custard gives the menu a dessert identity alongside the burgers. It is a rich, frozen dairy dessert made with egg yolk as part of its traditional composition. The texture is typically dense and smooth, which differs from the lighter, more aerated texture many people associate with some types of ice cream.
Freddy’s focuses its restaurant concept on that mix rather than on custard alone. That matters when researching its history: the business was not simply a custard manufacturer. It was a restaurant concept whose name and menu joined custard with burgers and other sides.
What is frozen custard, and how is it different from ice cream?
Frozen custard is a frozen dessert made from dairy ingredients and egg yolk. The egg yolk contributes to its creamy texture. Ice cream and frozen custard are related desserts, but their recipes and production standards can differ, so the terms are not interchangeable in every context.
Custard is often served at a relatively soft temperature and can feel dense and creamy. Ice cream can vary widely in texture, from light and airy to rich and firm. The exact result depends on the recipe, equipment, storage, and serving method, so not every custard tastes or feels exactly the same.
At Freddy’s, frozen custard is sold in forms such as cones, sundaes, and shakes, with flavors and toppings varying by menu and location. For current flavor choices, check the menu at the specific restaurant you plan to visit. Limited-time items may not be available everywhere or for long.
How to tell the origin story apart from current ownership
A company’s founders, namesake, and current owner are not necessarily the same people. For Freddy’s, the founders are Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and Scott Redler; Freddy Simon is the namesake. Ownership can change over time as a business grows, sells shares, or changes corporate structure.
That difference is useful when checking articles or company profiles. A page that says someone “started Freddy’s” may be talking about the restaurant’s founding, while another source may discuss who owns or operates the company now. Those statements can both be true if they refer to different points in the company’s history.
If you need current corporate ownership for a business, investment, or employment question, look for a recent company announcement or an up-to-date official business record. Do not assume that the people who opened the first restaurant still own every part of the chain.
Common questions about Freddy’s founders
Was Freddy Simon one of the founders?
No. Freddy Simon was the namesake of the restaurant. His sons, Bill and Randy Simon, founded the chain with Scott Redler in 2002. The name honors Freddy, but the commonly identified founding team consists of the two brothers and Redler.
Did the Simon brothers start Freddy’s by themselves?
No. Bill and Randy Simon founded the restaurant with Scott Redler. Describing the business as a project of the Simon brothers is understandable because of the family name, but it leaves out Redler’s role as a co-founder.
Was Freddy’s first location in Wichita?
Yes. The first restaurant opened in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002. Wichita is the origin location associated with the chain’s founding.
Did Freddy’s invent frozen custard?
No. Frozen custard existed before the restaurant opened. Freddy’s serves frozen custard as a defining part of its menu, but the company did not invent the dessert itself.
Is Freddy’s a custard shop or a burger restaurant?
It is a restaurant chain known for both steakburgers and frozen custard. The full name, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, signals that combination. Customers can order a meal, dessert, or both, depending on the location’s menu.
What people often get wrong about the story
The most common mistake is treating Freddy Simon as the person who founded the restaurant. His name is on the brand because his sons chose to honor him, but that does not make him one of the three founders. Keep the roles separate and the story becomes straightforward.
Another misconception is that Freddy’s created frozen custard. The chain is known for serving it, but it did not originate the dessert category. The useful distinction is between a business’s signature product and the invention of that product.
It is also easy to assume every founding partner had the same role. The reliable summary is that Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and Scott Redler were co-founders. Unless a dependable source spells out their individual responsibilities, do not assign specific operational duties to one person.
How to remember the Freddy’s origin story
- Remember the founders: Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and Scott Redler started the restaurant together.
- Remember the namesake: Freddy Simon was the father honored by the brand, not one of the founders.
- Remember the place and year: The first restaurant opened in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002.
- Remember the menu idea: Freddy’s paired steakburgers with frozen custard as a restaurant concept.
Those four details answer most questions about the chain’s beginnings without confusing its family tribute with its founding team. They also provide a quick way to check whether a short description of the brand has left out an important part of the story.
Why the founder details matter
Knowing who founded a restaurant helps you understand what its name means and how its concept began. In Freddy’s case, the family tribute explains the name, while Redler’s involvement shows that the restaurant was built by a partnership that included experienced restaurant leadership.
The distinction also makes the history easier to discuss accurately. Say that the business was founded by Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and Scott Redler, and that it was named for Freddy Simon. That wording gives credit to the people who started the chain and to the family member whose name it carries.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers was founded in Wichita in 2002 by Bill Simon, Randy Simon, and Scott Redler. The restaurant is named for Freddy Simon, the brothers’ father—not for a fourth founder.
If you want to share the story, remember the three founders, the Wichita opening, and the family namesake. That is the clearest way to answer who made freddy’s frozen custard without confusing the brand’s name with its founding team.