Demolition began this week in preparation for construction of a new restaurant in northeast Cedar Rapids.

Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers will open in the spring of 2015 at 2745 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE. The Wichita, Kan.-based restaurant chain offers a variety of menu items including lean-beef steakburgers, Vienna Beef hot dogs, and shoestring fries, as well as freshly-churned, chocolate or vanilla frozen custard.

Crews are demolishing a building that formerly housed Metro Grill and reconstruction will begin early next month. The newly constructed, free-standing building will feature indoor seating, patio dining and drive-thru service.

"We believe Freddy's will be a great fit for the area," said Freddy's franchisee Mike Young. "Our expansion plans include future locations in Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Iowa City, Dubuque, and the Quad Cities."

Co-founded in 2002 by Scott Redler and Bill, Randy and Freddy Simon, Freddy's opened its first location in Wichita, Kan.