From its humble beginnings as a water ice shop operating on a neighborhood porch, Rita’s Ice has grown into a widespread network of franchise locations, sharing the company’s local community values with the nation. By Kelsi Trinidad
It all started on Bob Tumolo’s front porch in a Philly suburb back in 1984. That’s when the former Philadelphia firefighter, looking for a side hustle, used his mother’s famous recipe to open a small Italian ice business. Tumolo decided to name the shop after his wife, and just like that, Rita’s Ice was born. By Lizzy Yeserski