Freddy's opens 600th restaurant with Beaufort endcap format

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers announced the opening of its 600th restaurant in Beaufort, South Carolina, on 12 October 2026, marking a milestone in its US expansion. The restaurant uses an endcap format without a drive-through, reflecting the company's push to give franchisees more options beyond its traditional standalone sites.

Long-standing franchisee Charleston Custard will own and operate the location, extending the chain's presence in the Southeast. The Beaufort restaurant will have seating for 65 guests and an outdoor patio, combining those facilities with one of the development formats Freddy's is promoting as it pursues a broader range of property opportunities.

More flexibility in restaurant development

According to Freddy's, the endcap prototype is part of a recent initiative to accommodate more types of real estate and support further expansion. The company is placing renewed emphasis on both endcap and in-line restaurants as it develops beyond the standalone model that has traditionally shaped its estate.

For franchise operators, the significance of the Beaufort opening lies in that wider choice of formats. Freddy's said these restaurant types offer additional development flexibility and provide routes into priority markets, supporting its effort to reach a broader range of trade areas.

Chris Dull, president and chief executive of Freddy's, linked the restaurant milestone to that property strategy. He said the shift towards in-line and endcap models was increasing the company's flexibility over where and how it develops, creating further opportunities to introduce the brand to communities across the country.

US priorities and international recruitment

Freddy's identified the Northeast, Rust Belt, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Northern California and Florida as continuing priorities for growth. Those regions form its stated domestic development focus as the company pursues expansion through a wider range of restaurant sites and recruits additional franchise partners.

The company is also seeking growth outside its domestic market and said it had recently agreed a development deal for five units in the Philippines. That agreement sits alongside a broader recruitment effort aimed at qualified single- and multi-unit franchisees in both domestic and international markets.

Founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002, Freddy's operates in the fast-casual sector with cooked-to-order steakburgers and freshly churned frozen custard. The company said its streamlined operating model is designed to support long-term franchise growth and that it continues to attract experienced restaurant operators.

Following the Beaufort opening, Freddy's reported 600 operating locations in the United States. Its search for new franchisees includes the US, Canada and Mexico, with recruitment covering operators interested in either a single restaurant or multiple units.