Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers to open Tuesday

Workers put the finishing touches on the new Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers restaurant at the Parkway Plaza shopping center in Lexington on Friday. {Vikki Broughton Hodges/Davidson Local}

The Parkway Plaza shopping center in south Lexington will soon gain a new fast-casual restaurant called Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

In addition, the adjacent IHOP restaurant in the same center that opened in late June is now open daily with full extended hours.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, a Wichita, Kansas-based company founded in 2002, will open Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 81 Plaza Parkway at the site of the former J&J Dry Cleaners.

Hours of operation will be 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Tim Shumate, the franchise operator, said the proximity to the traffic of Interstate 85 was a draw as well as the local traffic from shoppers. In addition, Siemens Mobility is building a factory that will manufacture rail cars and eventually employ 500 people in the Lexington Industrial Park on Brown Street, not far from the shopping center.

“The family-friendly atmosphere and strong community ties in Lexington feel like a perfect fit for Freddy’s,” Shumate said. “The availability in the Parkway Plaza Shopping Center was a great opportunity to place ourselves in an area near a wide variety of retail businesses and restaurants with a steady flow of traffic. We look forward to being a convenient dining option for nearby shoppers, and for those who live and work in the area.”

Shumate said Freddy’s is known for its cooked-to-order steakburgers made with fresh ground beef on grilled buns. The burger is a super-thin patty of 2 ounces that’s smashed on the grill to develop a crust around the edges. The burgers can be ordered as singles, doubles or triples.

This is the typical interior of a Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers fast-casual restaurant. (Contributed photo)

Other signature foods include Vienna Beef hot dogs made famous in Chicago, shoestring fries and freshly churned chocolate or vanilla frozen custard. It is also known for its Freddy’s Famous Fry Sauce, which is “a tangy twist on traditional ketchup.” Other sides include onion rings and cheese curds and chicken tenders and sandwiches are also on the menu.

The frozen custard is available plain or in root beer floats, shakes and malts as well as sundaes. The signature Turtle Sundae has custard, hot fudge, hot caramel and pecans.  The custard is also sold by the pint and quart.

Carryout will be available during regular business hours.

There are currently more than 470 Freddy’s in 36 states, according to the company website.

The new restaurant is located adjacent to the IHOP that opened in late June with abbreviated hours due to a staffing shortage and manager turnover, said Jamie Schurz, general manager.

“But we’re fully staffed — everything’s good now,” said Schurz, who has worked for IHOP for 14 years.

Banners saying “we’re open every day” were put up on the property because the tinted windows made people think the restaurant was not open, Schurz said.

The general manager said the restaurant draws travelers from I-85 as well as local regulars.

“We even have people from High Point and Salisbury,” she noted.

IHOP is best known for pancakes and other breakfast specialties but also offers diner fare ranging from sandwiches to dinner entrees. The restaurant offers a kids menu (12 and under) as well as a senior menu (55 and up).

“We have a guy who works third shift who comes in for dinner in the morning,” she said, noting the menu items are available all day. “So you can get a burger at 6 a.m. if that’s what you want.”

Hours for IHOP are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday and 6 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.