Freddy’s Nears 600 Restaurants as Steakburger Chain Targets Florida in National Growth Push

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is accelerating across the country, and Florida is part of the fast-casual chain’s next phase of growth.

The Wichita, Kansas-based restaurant brand expects to open about 60 locations this year as it nears the 600-restaurant mark, according to QSR Magazine. The expansion is being driven largely by existing franchisees, with roughly one-third of those operators expanding into additional territories.

For Freddy’s, the growth comes at a moment when consumers continue to reward restaurant brands that sit between traditional fast food and full fast casual: quick service, recognizable value, drive-thru convenience and a menu that feels more distinctive than a standard burger chain.

Freddy’s has built its identity around cooked-to-order steakburgers, shoestring fries and frozen custard. Its restaurants lean into a retro Americana style, with red booths, a diner-style feel and a menu built around burgers, hot dogs, fries and custard desserts. The company describes itself as one of the fastest-growing franchises in the U.S. and says its model includes traditional standalone restaurants, end-cap locations with drive-thrus, inline restaurants and nontraditional locations such as airports, stadiums, campuses and casinos.

The company ended 2025 with 580 restaurants open and operating, after opening 51 new restaurants during the year. It also signed 22 multi-unit development agreements in 2025 representing 118 future restaurants across the U.S. and Canada, according to a January company announcement.

Florida is one of the markets in the growth conversation. The company’s projected openings represent reported growth plans and franchise development activity, not a guarantee that every market will open on the same timeline. QSR reported that Freddy’s Florida footprint remained relatively small heading into 2026, leaving room for additional development compared with larger markets such as Texas. The publication also reported that Florida is among the states with 2026 openings listed and that Freddy’s has a franchise agreement signed in Florida without an outlet opened yet.

That matters because Florida has become one of the country’s most competitive restaurant expansion markets. Population growth, tourism, highway corridors, suburban development and a strong drive-thru culture continue to attract national chains looking for scalable sites. For brands like Freddy’s, the opportunity is not only in major metros, but also in fast-growing suburban and secondary markets where families, commuters and visitors support high-volume quick-service concepts.

Why Florida matters:

Florida gives Freddy’s a mix of tourism corridors, suburban growth, drive-thru traffic, and relatively underpenetrated markets compared with larger Freddy’s states.

Freddy’s has already shown interest in Central Florida. Previous reporting from What Now Orlando noted seven planned franchise locations in Lake and Polk counties, tied to Central Florida growth.

The brand’s expansion strategy is not just about adding more buildings. Freddy’s is also adapting its real estate model. QSR reported that the chain is placing more emphasis on end-cap and inline restaurants, which can give franchisees more flexibility in priority markets. The same report noted that in-line investment ranges start at about $854,834, compared with about $1.586 million for a standalone restaurant.

That flexibility could be important in Florida, where prime restaurant parcels can be expensive, drive-thru sites are competitive and new commercial development is often shaped by mixed-use centers, retail pads and suburban shopping corridors.

Freddy’s franchise materials also highlight the economics behind the brand’s push. The company lists a $2.6 million average unit volume figure for the top 25% of qualifying restaurants in its 2025 fiscal year, while noting that the figure reflects the top quarter of restaurants and does not represent all locations.

The company’s growth has also drawn investor attention. In September 2025, Freddy’s was acquired by investment funds affiliated with Rhône, a global private equity firm, from Thompson Street Capital Partners. At the time, the company said the transaction was intended to help drive continued market expansion.

For Florida, the larger story is that Freddy’s may still be early in its state growth curve. Unlike some legacy chains that already blanket the state, Freddy’s has room to fill in markets across Central Florida, the Gulf Coast, Northeast Florida, the Panhandle and high-growth inland corridors.

Freddy’s 2026 expansion also reaches several states within Extended Reach’s broader coverage map, including Georgia and Alabama, reinforcing the chain’s push across the Southeast and Sun Belt. While Florida remains one of the most visible growth opportunities, the company’s planned openings and franchise development activity show that Freddy’s is targeting regional corridors where population growth, highway traffic, suburban development and drive-thru demand continue to support fast-casual restaurant expansion. For states like Georgia and Alabama, that means Freddy’s growth is part of a larger pattern of national restaurant brands following new rooftops, tourism routes and expanding secondary markets across the Southeast.

The chain’s appeal is simple: burgers, fries, custard and a nostalgic brand experience built for families, drive-thru traffic and suburban convenience. But the business story is bigger than the menu. Freddy’s is becoming part of a broader national wave of restaurant brands chasing growth through franchising, smaller real estate formats and high-traffic Sun Belt markets.

If the company’s 2026 growth target holds, Freddy’s will move closer to becoming a 600-unit national player. And in Florida, where population growth continues to reshape the restaurant map, the brand may be one of the next fast-casual names to watch.