A Sea Of Red

Lynchburg Needs one. Anyone from the north should be able to vouch for this. I went today on my way to ODU. We stopped in Williamsburg. We have 2 in Richmond and 2 more coming!!!!!

They are now franchising (saw their listing in Entrepreneur magazine this past month) so this might be a nice business opportunity for somebody. All of the buzz from you guys has me interesting in hunting one down in DC when Mrs. Sly are over there next month.

I live in Maryland, they are all over the place.

So good.

They gave out free water ice on the first day of spring, there were so many people in line it took forever but was totally worth it.

investigating

It is listed as one of the hot franchises on the east coast in the food service category. It would seem to be a perfect fit for a college town.

OK...here's my only problem with it...to me this is a "Moe's" here's what I mean by that. Moe's just isnt what everyone was expecting (business wise) and that's simple...b/c Lynchburg is completely sold out to La Carretta (which is .2 miles from Moe's) which is half the price and arguably better food.


Now with Rita's...Lynchburg has sold out to the Bahama Sno Shack...NOW, I understand it's different...is it different enough than Bahama and the frozen smoothies that Panera & Starbucks, Sheetz etc offer?

Good point HMO, I've never been to any of those places so I wouldn't know how similar they are.

well the name "water ice" makes me automatically sno shack...but when I'm on their website it reminds me more of a Dunkin Donuts (which Lynchburg is now getting) so I'm a little confused


SCARRRRR answer my concerns please

a Dunkin Donuts (which Lynchburg is now getting)

Where?
When?

Both Mr. Donut & Krispy Kreme closed down in Lynchburg, so let's hope Dunkin Donuts makes it.

Hold My Own wrote:well the name "water ice" makes me automatically sno shack...but when I'm on their website it reminds me more of a Dunkin Donuts (which Lynchburg is now getting) so I'm a little confused


SCARRRRR answer my concerns please

Just try it once is all I have to say. I will never eat a Bahama snow Shack if there is a Rita's within 100 miles and that is the honest truth. I have driven that far to get it. I used to make trips from DC to Philly for Cheesesteaks when I was younger too so I am known for driving (even with these gas prices). Comparing Snow Shack to Rita's is like comparing the Crown Sterling to McDonalds. Yes they both serve cow products but that is where the similarities end! Trust me! This stuff is the best. I grew up on Italian Ice in Philly but this is the best I have ever had by far. Chris Toomer lives in Alaska but when he comes to the East, I have to take him to Ritas. He is ready to fight if we don't go. Anyone that remembers Toomer from his days in the LU Back court with Hildo knows that he can be pretty intense. As far as franchising, this is the hot thing to franchise right now but 5 years ago I looked into it and the Franchising fee was somehere between 100 to 300 K!!!! That is too steep of a price obviously. I think it is down to 30-35 K now which is much more reasonable.

Sly Fox wrote:They are now franchising (saw their listing in Entrepreneur magazine this past month) so this might be a nice business opportunity for somebody. All of the buzz from you guys has me interesting in hunting one down in DC when Mrs. Sly are over there next month.

2 things. We have to get together. Secondly, I will take you to get Rita's. Wild Black Cherry is the best but the traditional Cherry is terrific as well. Different Rita's have different flavors everyday but usually Cherry is made everyday in the north. Richmond hasn't been that way though. Some days cherry isn't made which is not good for me.

Go for the Gelati - ice cream and water ice on alternating layers.

Baldspot wrote:Go for the Gelati - ice cream and water ice on alternating layers.

MRS SCAR gets that every time. I have never ever tried it believe it or not. I will bet it is good though.

197k - 300k for the franchise so it's not that bad

Picturing HMO combining WaterIce with a Tanning business...

Rita's is God's Greatest Gift to the North
(Before "Winning the War", Dunkin Donuts, WaWa, White Castle.....maybe not White Castle)

Never White Castle (** Remembering multiple family trips to the Emergency Room -- Shudder **)

Mrs. Sly & I are just flying into DC for a weekend on business. But we will have time to find a Rita's WaterIce.

Schfourteenteen wrote:Rita's is God's Greatest Gift to the North
(Before "Winning the War", Dunkin Donuts, WaWa, White Castle.....maybe not White Castle)

Wawa is king.....i disagree....

I hate to break it to you guys, but ice is water.

ALUmnus wrote:I hate to break it to you guys, but ice is water.

Money is paper. What's your point?

I too think "Water Ice" is a dumb redundant name. How bout Rita's Flavored ice/

I think it is terrific marketing. Would "flavored ice" be initiating any discussion? The more I read this thread the more anxious I am to check it out.

I've never been, but the items on their menu look delicious: http://www.ritasice.com/products_italianIce.cfm

is this the same thing as italian ice?

what the heck. after clicking on the link, even Rita's calls it Italian Ice.