Rita's Italian Ice Opens in Chelsea

Last year, we reported that a Pennsylvania-based chain of Italian ice shops was going to expand into the Greater Boston area and elsewhere in Massachusetts in a big way, and now we have learned that it has opened a location just north of the city.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Rita's Italian Ice has its grand opening in Chelsea today, with the store moving into a space in the Mystic Mall by Everett Avenue and Spruce Street. As mentioned earlier, it looks like a total of 30 shops could be coming to the region over the next several years, though no specific locations have been given at this point in time.

EB states that a location of Rita's Italian Ice had once been in Salem, but it shut down several years ago.

The address for Rita's Italian Ice in Chelsea is 170 Everett Avenue, Chelsea, MA, 02150. The website for Rita's can be found at http://www.ritasice.com/

[Earlier Article]
Rita's Italian Ice to Expand into Massachusetts

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Rita's Italian Ice to Expand into Massachusetts

A Pennsylvania-based chain of Italian ice shops is making big plans to expand into the Boston area and elsewhere in Massachusetts.

The Boston Business Journal is reporting that Rita's Franchise Co. is working with a Boston entrepreneur to open franchises of Rita's Italian Ice in the local area, with 30 stores on their way to the state over the course of the next eight years. The chain, which calls itself the "largest Italian Ice concept in the world," is looking at communities such as Allston, Bedford, Brighton, Roxbury, Hingham, Jamaica Plain, and Roslindale, with the first one opening in the spring of 2016--though no specific locations have been finalized as of yet. (The company is also looking to open mobile outlets in downtown Boston.)

Currently, more than 600 locations of Rita's Italian Ice can be found in the United States, including one in Rhode Island and approximately 15 in Connecticut. The website for Rita's is at http://www.ritasice.com/

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Update: Richie's Slush Shop in Everett Announces That It Will Reopen

[Ed note:  This article was updated on May 11 to reflect the fact that the shop has decided to reopen.]

Over the weekend, a legendary slush shop that has been in business for nearly 60 years announced that it had closed its doors. Now it is saying that it will reopen later this week.

According to a note on its website that was seen on Sunday, Richie's Slush on Revere Beach Parkway in Everett was shuttered, with the post saying that "[Due] to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, Richie's Store on the Parkway will not be opening this season. We apologize for this and hope you will purchase Richie's Italian Ice Products from one of our many other fine locations and retailers." This afternoon, one of our readers tells us (via Twitter) that a new note has replaced the old one, saying that "Because of hard work and an overwhelming support from our customers. Richie's Original Store on the Parkway in Everett will RE-OPEN this Friday May 15th!...We have always appreciated and enjoyed serving you and also want to thank you for so many calls and entries in our blog page, plus all the social media comments to us on Facebook and Twitter, etc..."

Richie's Slush, which first started out in 1956, is known for its assortment of Italian ices, with such flavors as lemon, fudge, pineapple, grape, bubble gum, strawberry, cotton candy, mint chocolate, and many others offered. Their products can be found in a number of markets, including Roche Bros., Stop & Shop, and Star Market. [Note: A Facebook post from the business mentions that the retail shop and the wholesale business are under different management.]

The address for this slush shop in Everett is: Richie's Slush, 2084 Revere Beach Parkway, Everett, MA, 02149. Its website can be found at http://www.richiesslush.com/

Thanks to a reader for initially bringing Richie's closing to our attention, as well as the reader who mentioned its reopening.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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