Get Free Italian Ice at Rita’s Grand Opening in Chelsea

Ritas Ice Little Ferry NJ by Anthony Quintano on Flickr/Creative Commons

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Rita’s Italian Ice. The Pennsylvania chain’s newest local shop opened in Chelsea last month, and it’s celebrating this week with free Italian ice.

On Thursday, October 13, a scoop of Rita’s namesake treat is gratis throughout the day at the new shop, located near the Mystic Mall. The frosty confection, similar to sorbet, comes in flavors like chocolate peanut butter, honeydew, blue raspberry, and guava. Sugar-free versions of these sweets are also on the menu, alongside sundaes, gelati, and cookie sandwiches.

The Chelsea shop is Rita’s only store in Massachusetts—a Salem branch shuttered a couple years ago—though it’s the first of 30 new locations planned for the state by 2023, Boston Business Journal reported. Rita’s has about 600 locations nationwide.

Patricia Shelton, a Roxbury native, is leading the Massachusetts expansion, eyeing neighborhoods like Jamaica Plain, Allston/Brighton, Roxbury, Hingham, and Bedford. She also plans to establish a few mobile Rita’s units in downtown Boston.

In Chelsea Thursday, 50 lucky customers will also receive free Italian ice for a year. Guests can enter to win by signing up for Rita’s Birthday Club, and bringing school supplies to donate to the Citizen Schools organization.

More of these Italian ice shops should surface in the coming months, so ready your sweet tooth.

Rita’s Italian Ice, 170 Everett Ave., Chelsea, 617-889-0302, ritasfranchises.com.