Just a 20-minute drive from Georgetown, Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard offers a refreshing escape from the Texas heat with a dessert stop revolving around treats not often found in Central Texas: fruity Italian ice and creamy frozen custard.
Part of a beloved East Coast-born brand that’s been delighting dessert lovers since 1984, Rita’s has quickly become a go-to gathering place for locals—showing up for everything from first dates and family celebrations to casual meetups and spontaneous sweet treat runs.
A SWEET BEGINNING
It all started in the summer of 1984, when former Philadelphia firefighter Bob Tumolo set up a small Italian ice stand on his front porch in a suburb of Philadelphia. Named after his wife, the original shop was built on a simple idea: to create the best-tasting, highest-quality Italian ice around. Sal Raccuglia, owner of Rita’s in Round Rock, can attest to that claim. Having grown up in Pennsylvania just two minutes away from a Rita’s, he said he’s never tasted anything that compares. “I have tried other Italian ice shops,” Sal says, “and that was by far the best.”
What began as a neighborhood treat quickly grew into something much larger. Today, Rita’s Italian Ice has expanded to more than 30 states, including Texas, which is home to two Rita’s in Round Rock and New Braunfels. After considering nearby communities like Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Leander, Sal ultimately chose Round Rock for its growth and stability. “It felt the most established, so I wanted to start there as my first staple store.”
The shop opened in April 2025 at the Shoppes at Forest Commons on Gattis School Road, bringing a dessert long associated with the Philadelphia area into a region better known for ice cream and snow cones.
“Austin was missing something,” Sal says. “It gets really hot here, and there’s not much Italian ice. I wanted to bring it out here.”
He adds that with Georgetown growing so quickly, residents can look forward to a taste of Rita’s signature treats in the future.
COOL CLASSICS
At the heart of Rita’s is its signature Italian ice—a dairy-free dessert made from water, sugar, and fruit—smoother and softer than a snow cone, lighter and less dense than sorbet with a scoopable, almost creamy texture. With a rotating lineup of more than 95 varieties, each visit feels like a new experience, whether you’re craving something light and citrusy or rich and decadent. For your first stop at Rita’s, start with some customer go-to picks: mango (the number one bestseller) as well as other fruity favorites like cherry, strawberry, watermelon, or tropical-vacation-in-a-cup pina colada.
Beyond Italian ice, there’s also frozen custard: a silky dessert similar to ice cream but richer and thicker due to the addition of egg yolks. The gelati layers velvety custard with Italian ice for the best of both worlds, while the blendini whips the two together into a smooth, almost milkshake-like consistency that sits somewhere between dessert and drink.
HITTING THE SWEET SPOT
More than just a dessert stop, Rita’s has become a local hangout where people come to cool off and connect while sharing something sweet together. Families swing by after Little League games, friends meet up for a midweek treat, and couples often find it an easy, low-pressure first date spot.
“Our main audience is definitely families—they can all get a treat for under $30, which is hard to find around here,” Sal says.
“We also see plenty of couples on dates, and we’ve had many people tell us this was where they had their first date—or even where they first met.”
For first-time customers, there’s an added welcome: download the Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard app and after your first purchase, you can enjoy a free Italian ice, custard, gelati, or blendini during your next visit.
3720 Gattis School Rd #200 • Round Rock • ritasice.com