Rita’s Italian Ice and Einstein Bros Bagels to open in west St. Pete
Einstein Bros. Bagels and Rita's Italian Ice are opening new storefronts in retail centers along St. Petersburg's 66th Street corridor.
Einstein Bros. Bagels will open at 2216 66th Street North in an outparcel retail strip outside of the Tyrone Square Mall and Rita's Italian Ice will open across the street at 2141 66th Street North inside the Crossroads Shopping Center.
Einstein Bros. Bagels, a Colorado-based chain serving breakfast sandwiches and fresh bagels, will replace the shuttered Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream shop, which closed its brick-and-mortar storefront in October but is still offers catering.
The Einstein Bros. Bagels brand was created in 1995 by Boston Market as a way to market breakfast foods. It’s currently owned by Panera.
This will be the 9th location for Einsteins in Pinellas County, which also has outposts in Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Seminole, and on 4th Street North in St. Pete.
Einstein Bros. Bagels specializes in classic and gourmet sweet and savory bagels served with double-whipped cream cheese.
Bagel flavors include maple french toast, apple cinnamon, blueberry, cheddar jalapeño, spinach florentine, asiago cheese, and many more.
The cream cheese flavors also vary from rich honey almond and strawberry spreads to zesty garden veggie and onion & chive shmears.
An opening date has not been announced; however, Einstein will join Verizon, America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses, and TD Bank in the retail strip.
Meanwhile, Rita's Italian Ice, a Pennsylvania-based franchise selling Italian ice and frozen custard, is planning a store across the street in the Crosswinds Shopping Center.
Rita's Italian Ice will replace the shuttered Doctors' Weightloss Center, which relocated to East Bay Drive in Largo.
This will be the fifth location for Rita’s in Pinellas County, with shops in Palm Harbor, Clearwater, and Seminole, and the first location in St. Petersburg.
Rita's is known for their sweet Italian ice made from real fruit, frozen custards, and gelati - a combination of layers of Italian ice and custard.
The Italian ice mainly comes in tropical flavors like cherry lemonade and pina colada while the flavors of the frozen custards include birthday cake batter, pistachio, and pumpkin pie.
Rita's also serves milkshakes, custard cookie sandwiches, and drinks blended with Italian ice.
Rita's will join co-tenants Super Cuts, Tijuana Flats, MattressFirm, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Destiny Nails Spa, and Home Depot.
According to Rita's website, the 40-year-old frozen treat franchise has grown to 575 locations worldwide with additional locations expected to open by the end of this year.
The company was founded by Bob Tumolo, a former Philadelphia firefighter, who opened a small Italian ice business on his front porch in a suburb of Philly in 1984. He named the shop after his wife, Rita.
Rita's hasn't announced an opening for the new St. Pete store.