The company was founded in 1883 by Ed Friedrich as a manufacturer of handcrafted furniture and other goods such as billiards tables, store fixtures, and other cabinetry.

The company is credited with several innovations, including introducing the first refrigerated display case for food retailers.

In 1971, the company moved its headquarters to the Pan Am Expressway on San Antonio's Near East Side, once part of Fort Sam Houston.

In 2010, the company moved its headquarters again to a building in Uptown San Antonio, to the immediate west of the city's airport.

[5] After nearly 40 years of continuous production, Friedrich replaced its long-running QuietMaster line with the professional-grade Kühl series in 2010.

[7] For 2023, Friedrich introduced its first line of inverter room air conditioners, also manufactured by TCL, as an addition to the Chill Premier lineup.