Free Rita's Italian Ice Welcomes Spring In Newtown

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard at 12 Swamp Road in Newtown will welcome the first day of spring by giving away a tasty treat on Tuesday, March 19.

The Bucks County-based iconic frozen treats destination — with locations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey — is offering a free six-ounce Italian Ice giveaway in the available flavor of their choice, said Mitchell Cove, who has owned and operated the Newtown franchise since 1994.

"We're going to welcome spring with a free cup of water ice to anyone who shows up," said Cove. "Plus we will also have all of other featured products - frozen custards, gelatis, concretes and blenders."

With the giveaway on Tuesday, Cove said Rita's will also be rolling out a new flavor: Sour Patch Kids Watermelon, a burst of tangy and tart watermelon that will be featured as an Italian Ice, in a gelati and a topping on Rita's creamy vanilla frozen custard. It will also be offered as an Ice Blender. The flavor will only be offered for a limited time only.

On hand to help Newtown celebrate the first day of spring will be Rita’s reigning “World’s Fastest Scooper,” Brandon Cove, a Council Rock South graduate and son of franchise owner Mitchell Cove.

In 2019, at Rita’s annual Convention in Atlantic City, Brandon won the Golden Scooper Award as the fastest water ice scooper in the company. Since the company hasn't held a convention since then due to COVID, he has continued to hold the designation.

"He's planning on bringing his Golden Scooper Award to the store on Tuesday to show it off," said his dad. "Rita's has always been part of our family. My kids were raised in the business. They all worked in the business. Their friends worked at the business. It's a great experience for a young person as a first job in the working world."

Brandon worked his way up through the company and eventually became a manager. Today, he works as a director for a company that provides technology solutions for major companies.

Cove bought into the franchise shortly after it was launched 40 years ago. Today he operates two stores in Newtown and in Rockledge. This will be his 34th season as the owner of the Newtown franchise.

According to Cove, Rita’s signature Italian Ice is made fresh daily on-site and available in a rotating daily selection from more than 75 flavors. Other menu items at Rita’s include creamy frozen custard, signature gelati, concretes, frozen coffee, Rita’s Blenders, milkshakes, and more.

"We make everything fresh on premises with quality ingredients. Some of our flavors have fruit in them. We have our cream ices, which are smoother than our regular ices," said Cove. "And our custard is probably the best out there."

According to Cove, mango is the franchise's number one flavor across the nation. Cherry comes in a distant second, he said. "And believe it or not, cotton candy water ice is very popular. Our wild black cherry is awesome. Swedish Fish is another popular seller. And at certain locations, including Newtown, mint chocolate chip is popular. Blue raspberry is another popular flavor."

Rita's was founded 40 years ago by Bob Tumolo, a former Philadelphia firefighter who opened a small Italian Ice business on his front porch in Bensalem. That first shop, named after his wife, Rita, was created to offer the best-tasting, highest-quality Italian Ice. Today, Rita’s is in more than 30 states, serving up ice, custard, and happiness to millions of loyal fans.

According to Cove, the chain will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in May with special promotions. It will also be introducing two new flavors later this year - Kool Aid Fruit Punch and Mini Nerds Grape.

The Newtown store is open Monday to Sunday from 12 to 9 p.m.