U. SAUCON TWP., Pa. – Gelatis, Misto shakes and other cool treats are served at a new location in the Lehigh Valley.
Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, the popular water ice and frozen custard chain with more than 550 locations nationwide, opened Wednesday at 7001 Route 309 in Upper Saucon Township, said franchisee Humberto Ortiz.
The stand is located in renovated space near Carlo’s Pizza and Casa Toro Mexican Grill in the Fairmont Village shopping center, north of Coopersburg.
“We are so excited,” Ortiz said.
“We held an unofficial opening event to see how everything was going and it was fantastic. The community has been really supportive and we couldn’t be happier. We also plan to have a grand opening celebration in the spring.”
Ortiz, of Allentown, has enjoyed Rita’s ice cream and other treats since he was a child and recognized the need for a Rita’s stand in the Coopersburg area.
The closest Rita’s stores to Coopersburg are located 10 to 12 miles away in Allentown, Hellertown and Quakertown.
“I love Rita’s,” Ortiz said. “I grew up with it when I lived in Allentown, and I always wanted to open one. So I decided to keep it going in the Coopersburg area.”
Known for its “ice cream, custard, happiness,” Rita’s offers an extensive menu of treats including Italian ice cream, frozen custard, milkshakes, frozen drinks (Italian ice cream swirled into drinks), gelatis (layers of Italian ice cream and custard), misto shakes (Italian ice cream mixed with custard), concretes (custard mixed with toppings), and blendinis (custard mixed with Italian ice cream and toppings).
Based in Trevose, Bucks County, the company serves a rotating selection of over 95 Italian ice cream flavors made fresh daily at each location, including blueberry, cantaloupe, chocolate peanut butter, Dr. Pepper, Georgia peach, guava, passion fruit, juicy pear, root beer, strawberry lemonade and Swedish fish.
Starting Sunday, the Upper Saucon store will have a new variety of pumpkin, Ortiz said.
There are also rotating sugar-free options, such as cherry, dragon fruit and mango peach.
“Every day you can see between 10 and 12 flavors,” Ortiz said. “We really want to see what the community likes and take requests.”
Each store is individually owned and operated. Every year the company celebrates the first day of spring by giving guests free Italian ice cream.
“This is a tradition at Rita,” the company’s website states. “This is how we start the season – and spread a little joy.”
The history of Rita’s dates back to the summer of 1984, when Bob Tumolo, a former Philadelphia firefighter, decided to open a small Italian ice cream shop to supplement his income.
Tumolo opened the first Rita’s in Bensalem, Bucks County and named the store after his wife Rita.
Like most Rita’s locations, the Upper Saucon stand will be open most of the year and will be temporarily closed during the winter, Ortiz said.
“This year we will try to keep it open until about November 1,” Ortiz said.
Customers can place their orders at the counters and enjoy their treats at tables nearby in a covered part of the mall, Ortiz said.
There are plenty of free parking spaces available in the shopping center’s parking lot.
Currently, hours are from noon to 10 p.m. daily. After Labor Day, hours will be slightly shortened, Ortiz said.
Rita’s joins about a dozen other tenants at Fairmont Village.
In addition to Carlo’s Pizza and Casa Toro, the mall is also home to other well-known businesses, including Auto Zone, D&J Sports and the Chinese and Japanese restaurant Eastern Gourmet.
Like New Pianos opened last year and offers the sale of new and used pianos as well as piano servicing, restoration and transport.
