A new restaurant in the Lehigh Valley is serving Misto shakes, gelatos, and other refreshing delicacies. According to franchisee Humberto Ortiz, Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, a well-known company of water ice and frozen custard with over 550 stores around the country, debuted at 7001 Route 309 in Upper Saucon Township.
In the Fairmont Village shopping mall, which is located just north of Coopersburg, the stand is located in a recently remodeled area next to Carlo's Pizza and Casa Toro Mexican Grill. Ortiz exclaimed, "We are very excited." "It was great how everything went during our soft opening. We are incredibly grateful for the community's support, and we could not be happier. In the spring, we also hope to have a big opening party.
Ortiz, of Allentown, recognized the need for a Rita's stand in the Coopersburg region since she had grown up loving Rita's ice and other sweets. The Rita's restaurants that are closest to Coopersburg are in Allentown, Hellertown, and Quakertown, which are six to seven miles apart. "I adore Rita's," Ortiz declared. Living in Allentown, I was raised around them, so I have always wanted to open one. I therefore made the decision to proceed with it in the Coopersburg region.
Reputed for serving up "Ice, Custard, Happiness," Rita's serves up a wide range of confections, such as frozen custard, milkshakes, gelato (layered layers of gelato and custard), Misto shakes (Italian ice blended with custard), Concretes (custard blended with toppings), and Blendinis (custard blended with Italian ice and toppings). The company, which is based in Trevose, Bucks County, offers a variety of freshly made Italian ice flavors, made in-house daily at each location. Flavors include blueberry, cantaloupe, chocolate peanut butter, root beer, strawberry lemonade, Georgia peach, guava passionfruit, juicy pear, and Swedish Fish. According to Ortiz, a pumpkin flavor will be offered at the Upper Saucon site beginning on Sunday. Additionally, there are occasionally available sugar-free varieties such mango peach, dragon fruit, and cherry. "You can see anywhere from 10 to 12 flavors every day," Ortiz stated. "We are eager to get requests and discover what the community enjoys."
Every year, the company commemorates the first day of spring by giving away free Italian ice to visitors. Each shop is independently owned and operated. "It is a Rita's tradition," the website for the company states. "Just our way of bringing a little joy and starting the season." In order to augment his income, Bob Tumolo, a former Philadelphia firefighter, opened a modest Italian Ice shop in the summer of 1984. This is where the story of Rita's began. In Bensalem, Bucks County, Tumolo established the first Rita's, naming the company after his wife Rita.
Like other of Rita's sites, the Upper Saucon stand will be open for business most of the year before temporarily closing for the duration of the winter, according to Ortiz. "This year, our goal is to remain open until approximately November 1st," stated Ortiz. Orders can be placed at walk-up windows, and patrons can eat their sweets at adjacent tables beneath a covered area of the mall, according to Ortiz. There is plenty of free parking in the lot of the shopping center. The current hours are daily from noon to ten p.m. Hours will be somewhat reduced after Labor Day, according to Ortiz.
Rita's moves in with roughly a dozen additional tenants in Fairmont Village. Other well-known companies with locations at the mall include Auto Zone, D&J Sports, and the Eastern Gourmet Chinese and Japanese restaurant, in addition to Carlo's Pizza and Casa Toro.