Westdale adding new restaurants

CEDAR RAPIDS — Two restaurant chains with stores in northeast Cedar Rapids opened locations on the Edgewood Road SW perimeter of Westdale.

Firehouse Subs and Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers are leasing space in a 7,500-square-foot building that eventually will have a third tenant.

Firehouse Subs, founded by former firefighters Chris and Robin Sorensen, is a fast-casual restaurant chain with more than 1,000 locations in 44 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. The restaurants serve sandwiches with meats and cheeses steamed and served on a toasted sub rolla.

John Chadima, franchise owner of the Firehouse Subs stores in Cedar Rapids, said the decor of each restaurant is based on the founding family's decades of fire and police service. Each location is decorated with firefighter memorabilia along with custom, hand-painted murals that pay tribute to the local community, he said.

The Cedar Rapids mural depicts the history of the town by featuring past and present-day firefighters and equipment, as well as paying tribute to the city's Czech heritage.

Chadima said the Firehouse Subs at Westdale will employ between 20 and 25 people and feature inside seating as well as several tables for outdoor dining.

Freddy's, co-founded in 2002 by Scott Redler and Bill, Randy and Freddy Simon, opened its first location in Wichita, Kan. The chain serves cooked-to-order steakburgers, Chicago-style hot dogs and other items along with frozen custard.

Freddy's has grown to 227 restaurants in 30 states. Its Westdale venue will seat 100 patrons inside and has additional seating on a patio, according to Steven Young, director of operations. The restaurant, which will employ between 80 and 90 people, has two drive-up lanes.

With Freddy's locations in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, franchise owner Mike Young is considering developing additional stores in Iowa and western Illinois.