Dave Dreiling is a native of Kansas and president of Carolina Cats LLC, which is based in Manhattan, Kan.
Members of the LLC own seven Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers franchises in North Carolina and are scheduled to open their eighth – at 2322 Battleground Avenue in Greensboro (at the former site of a Burger King restaurant) – before the year is out.
The company already has locations open in High Point and Burlington.
Despite his obvious ties to North Carolina, Dreiling, 49, still lives in the Midwest. We caught up with him one afternoon this week.
Q. You live in Kansas, but you’ll soon be the majority owner of eight Freddy’s restaurants in North Carolina. That’s a pretty good distance away. What’s up with that?
A. (Laughs.) I’m told I’m halfway crazy. Maybe this confirms it.
Q. How’d you get started with Freddy’s?
A. Freddy’s was founded in Wichita, Kan. (in 2002, by Scott Redler and Bill, Randy and Freddy Simon). I know all the founding members, they’re great guys. I felt comfortable getting involved with them. Freddy Simon, the man for whom the company is named, is still alive. He’s in his 90s. He’s a World War II vet. He’s a great guy, very humble.
Read more: Triad Business Journal