Jonathan Nadler presents a brief history of the beloved Philadelphia brand of Rita's Water Ice, a summer staple for any and every age.

1. SPOTLIGHTING PHILLY BRANDS:
RITA'S ITALIAN ICE
JONATHAN NADLER

2. JONATHAN NADLER
NOTHING SAYS “THE FIRST DAY OF
SPRING” LIKE FREE RITA’S.
It’s a simple, delicious dessert that consists of water, fruit,
and sugar, and its loyal customer base is hard to beat.
Based in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Rita’s Italian Ice, or
better known to locals as “wooder ice,” this sweet treat
has been a staple in the diets of Eastern Pennsylvanians
everywhere since 1984. And free water ice on the first
day of spring has been marked on the calendars starting
in 1992 when they had the first promotional event.

3. JONATHAN NADLER
YOU’D NEVER GUESS
THAT FOUNDER BOB TUMOLO
opened the first location on a front porch by today’s
success. The franchise currently has over 600 locations
internationally, which is quite the leap from the three that
existed in 1987. As far as Canada and China, anyone can
have Rita’s, sometimes even all-year round, if you’re lucky
enough to have a walk-in store near you.

4. JONATHAN NADLER
Thanks to Bob’s business
acumen and high standards
when it came to quality, he and
his brother began to build an
empire. People responded well
to the recipe Bob and his mother
perfected and especially liked
how fresh all of the ingredients
were, which set them apart as a
company. Bob also took the
initiative to bring in an attorney,
accountant, and supplier early on
in the franchise, which helped
him market effectively before
selling to current CEO Jim
Rudolph in 2005.

5. JONATHAN NADLER
Today, their menu expands not just
to Italian ice, but cream ice, frozen
custard, sundaes, and their own
mix of products like gelatis, mistos,
and blendinis. They combine the
delicious flavors of fruity water ice
with creamy custard, creating a
new twist on old favorites. You can
even turn a water ice into a frozen
drink if you’re feeling thirsty.
Creative concoctions like mistos
and blendinis and unique flavors
like Swedish Fish helped the
franchise compete with other
dessert chains. It’s the
commitment to a quality product
that keeps customers coming back.

6. JONATHAN NADLER
Rita’s has also partnered with Alex’s Lemonade Stand and
helped the nonprofit raise millions of dollars for kids with
cancer.
While Rita’s might not be quite as famous as Wawa, and
maybe you have another “wooder ice” place you like better, it
will always have a special place in Philadelphia’s heart and its
food pyramid. They continue to better themselves and look
forward to serving many generations to come, all enjoying a
frozen treat together.
And, yes, if you’re wondering — Rita’s was named after a real
person, none other than Bob’s wife!

7. THANKS FOR READING!FOR MORE PHILLY BRAND BLOGS, VISIT JONATHAN AT JONATHANNADLER.NET
JONATHAN NADLER