Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard - Mt. Penn

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard of Mt. Penn is a franchised location of the Pennsylvania-based frozen treat chain, operating at 3104 Perkiomen Avenue in the St. Lawrence and Mount Penn area just east of Reading. The shop serves Rita's full menu of Italian ice, frozen custard and combination treats, along with blended drinks, milkshakes and packaged items to take home. Like every Rita's shop, this one is independently owned and operated under the brand's standards and recipes. The store can be reached at +1 610-575-0020.

The Perkiomen Avenue corridor is one of the main routes connecting Reading with the eastern Berks suburbs, which puts the shop within easy reach of Mount Penn, St. Lawrence, Exeter Township, Lower Alsace and the surrounding neighborhoods. It draws the usual mix of warm weather traffic: families after dinner, youth sports teams following games, and commuters making a quick stop on the way home.

Italian Ice

Italian ice is the product the company was built on. It is made on site every day using real fruit, and Rita's freshness policy calls for any batch to be discarded 36 hours after it is produced. That short window means the product on the counter has been made recently rather than held in long-term storage.

Flavor selection rotates. The brand's full lineup runs to more than 60 options, and each shop carries a rotating subset on any given day, so the board changes from visit to visit. Mango, Cherry and Swedish Fish are among the recurring favorites. Because availability shifts, calling the shop ahead of a visit is the most reliable way to find out what is being served that day. Customers can also sign up for Cool Alerts, a notification service that sends an email when this particular location is carrying one of the flavors they have selected.

Sugar-free Italian ice is part of the menu as well, with options that have included Cherry, Mango Peach, Dragonfruit, Tangerine and Retro Pink Lemonade. These give guests who are watching sugar intake a version of the same product.

Frozen Custard and Combination Treats

Frozen custard is the second half of the menu. It is richer and denser than standard soft serve, and Rita's has won recognition for it. Core flavors include Vanilla, Chocolate, Salted Caramel and the Vanilla Chocolate Twist. Custard is served soft, and hand-scooped custard is available at some locations depending on equipment and format.

The two products come together in several ways:

• Gelati: alternating layers of Italian ice and frozen custard in a single cup. This is the signature combination and the item most associated with the brand.
• Blendini: custard and Italian ice blended together with a choice of toppings mixed in.
• Concrete: thick frozen custard folded with mix-in toppings until it holds its shape.
• Misto Shake: Italian ice spun with frozen custard into a drinkable version of the Gelati.
• Ice Blender: Italian ice worked into a frozen beverage.
• Milkshakes: hand-made shakes in frozen custard flavors.

Take-home items, including custard cookie sandwiches and pints of custard, are carried at participating shops for customers who want to bring something back for the freezer.

Company Background

Rita's began in 1984 in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, when Bob Tumolo, a former Philadelphia firefighter, opened a water ice stand and named it after his wife, Rita. The concept spread through the Philadelphia region and then well beyond it, becoming one of the largest Italian ice franchises in the country. The seasonal opening day each spring, traditionally marked with a giveaway, became a regional ritual in southeastern Pennsylvania and remains part of the brand's identity. The Mt. Penn shop operates within that system while being run locally.

Ordering and Delivery

Orders can be placed for pickup at the shop. Third party delivery is handled through DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub for customers who would rather have treats brought to them. One practical note: loyalty credits and rewards cannot be earned or redeemed on third party delivery orders, so guests who are working toward a reward should order directly.

Catering

The shop handles catering in three formats. Pickup catering involves preordering and collecting the order at the store. Delivery catering is scheduled drop-off at a chosen time and address. Full service catering covers setup, serving and cleanup at the event itself. Every catering order includes an ice scoop, cups and spoons. Flavor selection, lead times and the specifics of larger events are arranged directly with the shop by phone.

These options suit graduation parties, company picnics, block parties, school events, church functions and similar gatherings where a frozen treat station is easier to manage than a full dessert spread.

Fundraising

Rita's runs several fundraising formats that are open to schools, sports teams, clubs, religious groups and nonprofit organizations:

• Scoop Nights: the organization promotes a specific date, and a percentage of pre-tax sales during that window is donated back.
• Tiered fundraising: donation percentages increase as total sales for the event grow, rewarding groups that turn out more supporters.
• Fundraiser cards: cards sold by the organization that entitle the holder to 10% off purchases until the card expires.

Groups interested in any of these arrange details with the shop directly.

Rewards, Gift Cards and Accessibility

Rita's Rewards is a free loyalty program accessed through the Rita's Ice app for iPhone and Android. Members earn a free small Italian ice, frozen custard or Gelati after seven qualifying visits, and those who supply their birth month receive a birthday reward. Gift cards are sold and balances can be checked, and Braille gift cards are available for guests who are blind or visually impaired by calling 1-800-677-RITA (7482).

Planning a Visit

Rita's locations operate seasonally, typically opening in the spring and closing in the fall, with hours that expand during the hottest months. Because the daily flavor board rotates and seasonal hours shift, a quick phone call to the shop is the simplest way to confirm what is available before heading over. The Perkiomen Avenue location has parking on site and is set up for walk-up ordering, which keeps lines moving on busy summer evenings.