Former attorney finds happiness as a Rita’s franchise owner, a career change he says has added years to his life Born and raised in Philadelphia, Dave Harris has been enjoying Rita’s Italian Ice since at least the 90s. So when the former attorney met a Rita’s owner during an investment meeting, he jumped at the … Read more
From financial professionals to Italian ice scoopers, the Kiblers found their happy calling far from home. Brian and Cassandra Kibler opened their Rita’s Italian Ice in the tourist town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Originally from Pennsylvania, the couple used to vacation in Pigeon Forge every year and … Read more
How Rita’s invented a new category in the ice cream franchise segment and built a cult following that’s stronger than ever over three decades later There’s nothing like a frozen treat in the summertime. And when Rita’s Italian Ice is around, people who know us will skip over the usual ice cream franchise faster than … Read more
No matter how un-spring like the weather may be, brand fans brave the weather for their favorite first sign of spring: Rita’s grand re-opening March 20 is a big day for a couple of reasons. It’s the first day of spring, of course, but more significantly for Rita’s Italian Ice, it’s the grand re-opening day … Read more
Multi-unit franchisee turned Rita’s into a family enterprise. See how he grew from fresh college graduate to multi-unit owner. Tom Kowal owns four walk-up Rita’s Italian Ice units: a stand-alone in Clinton, NJ, that he purchased in 2006; an end-cap location in Flemington, NJ, which he acquired in 2011; and his third and fourth locations … Read more