‘Ice custard happiness.’ Italian ice chain opening new Manatee County store, records say
University Town Center is about to get “ice custard happiness.”
That’s the slogan for Rita’s Italian Ice, a quick-service chain specializing in frozen desserts that’s coming to the Shoppes at University Town Center, according to the company’s website.
The Rita’s Italian Ice is planned for a 1,356-square-foot existing building in the Shoppes at UTC on the north side of University Parkway at 8539 Cooper Creek Blvd., according to building records.
Rita’s menu includes Italian ice, which consists of dissolved sugar and fruit juices; frozen custard and gelati, which has layers of Italian ice with frozen custard.
Rita’s has 95 rotating flavors for its Italian ice, which is made fresh daily, according to the company’s website. Mango is the most popular Italian ice flavor, followed by cherry and Swedish Fish.
According to company history, former Philadelphia firefighter Bob Tumolo founded Rita’s in 1984. He named the restaurant after his wife. Currently, there are locations in 30 states.
Rita’s was absent from Manatee County for years after a former location in Lakewood Ranch closed. But the ice cold treats returned to the area in 2023 with the opening of a new store at 1731 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. in the Lakewood Ranch Gateway shopping center.
The Cooper Creek store isn’t the only new location planned for Manatee County. The company is also slated to open a shop at the Creekside Commons plaza at 8730 U.S. 301 N. in Parrish.
This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 5:50 AM.
