UPDATE, 5 p.m.: A spokesperson provides more information on a potential location and the timeline for a Freddy’s in the Galesburg-area.
A growing fast-casual restaurant known for steakburgers and frozen custard says it’s officially coming to the Galesburg-area.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers announced Wednesday in a news release that a father/son investment team will soon introduce new restaurants in Des Molnes, Iowa, along with Rock Island and Knox County in Illinois.
Meg Ryan, a spokesperson for Fishman Public Relations, tells WGIL the franchisee is “targeting Galesburg” within Knox County. She adds the franchisee plans to finalize site selection in early 2025, with the goal to open a Freddy’s in the Galesburg-area by the end of 2025.
WGIL reported in April that local developer Rob Benedict was set to ink a deal to bring Freddy’s to 1120 & 1134 N. Henderson St. — located between McDonald’s to the south and Walgreen’s to the north.
Benedict, however, said Wednesday that he no longer has an agreement to bring Freddy’s to that location. He said he will soon be able to announce his plans for that location, where one of the buildings has been demolished and another has been partially demolished.
Freddy’s has over 530 restaurants in 36 states, with another 130-plus locations in development for 2024 and 2025.
Founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002, the brand offers a unique combination of cooked-to-order steakburgers, all-beef hot dogs, shoestring fries and other savory items, along with freshly churned frozen custard treats.
The nearest Freddy’s are located in East Peoria and two in Davenport, Iowa. The East Peoria restaurant opened last October in the Levee District, situated at 134 E. Spinder Dr.