Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers announced that its 100th store opened in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on October 29 at 10:30 a.m. CDT. Two hours later, at 10:30 a.m. PDT, its 101st store opened in Westlake Village, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.

“Our story leading up to the opening of our 100th store is a combination of exemplary employees and a varied mix of visionary entrepreneurs first experiencing the concept as guests and then risking time and capital to open their own franchise stores,” says CEO Bill Simon. “The people who make up the brand have grown remarkably to resemble a family more and more with each milestone as our numbers continue to increase. The Freddy’s family will soon have grown to 5,000 people, with an average store employing 43 individuals. That it occurred in the headwinds of record unemployment and recession makes it seem particularly magical and rewarding.”

“Growing to 100 stores is thrilling,” says COO Scott Redler. “We opened the doors at our first location in 2002 with three strong and simple objectives: Serve the highest quality steakburgers and fresh frozen custard, operate the cleanest restaurant, and work with the most hospitable team. Our greatest success lies in the 100th store’s  capacity to reflect the values of our very first store at the corner of 21st and Tyler in Wichita, Kansas. We are thrilled to share this momentous occasion with Bowling Green franchise operator, Todd Whitchurch; Westlake Village franchise operators, Kyle Gerstner and Adam Wessley; and each and every one of our franchisees that helped us reach this milestone. We also appreciate the ongoing support of our suppliers, many of whom were with us when we opened in 2002 and who remain valued partners in our operation still today.”

Freddy’s expansion across the U.S. is continuing to gain momentum. Scheduled to open before the end of the year are additional locations in Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Development agreements for more than 400 additional sites have been signed extending the company’s growth into many new states not yet served.

“This growth has provided opportunities for many people in our Freddy’s family to advance from hourly employees to general managers and then to operating partners in our company and in our franchise groups,” Redler says. “The development of our team is our greatest point of pride.”