Rita's Italian Ice has landed on 66th Street North in the Tyrone corridor, bringing the chain's lineup of Italian ice, frozen custard and gelati to St. Petersburg. The shop, at 2141 66th St. N., is owned and operated by local franchisees Frank and Valarie Brown. The new storefront fills space in the Crossroads Shopping Center, taking over a former medical office that relocated to East Bay Drive.
Local Owners and a Neighborhood Dream
Owners Frank and Valarie Brown told The Gabber that opening a Rita’s had been a longtime goal after the couple moved from Pennsylvania in 2013. The outlet reports the Browns live in St. Pete with their two daughters and tapped decades of restaurant experience to get the shop off the ground. A photo of the couple in front of the new storefront ran in TBNweekly on March 20, 2026.
Where It Fits on the Tyrone Strip
The Rita’s location sits inside the Crossroads Shopping Center on 66th Street North, part of a busy retail stretch that includes Tyrone Square and a mix of other chain outposts, according to St. Pete Rising. That report notes this is the first Rita’s inside St. Petersburg city limits, joining existing Pinellas County shops in Palm Harbor, Clearwater and Seminole. The 66th Street spot replaces the former Doctors' Weightloss Center, which moved to East Bay Drive.
Menu, Hours and How to Find It
The new shop's menu and hours show up on delivery platforms, with typical offerings including Italian ice, gelati, frozen custard, concretes and milkshakes. Listings indicate hours that generally run from around midday into the evening. Delivery and pickup platforms list the address as 2141 66th St. N. with typical hours of roughly noon to late evening, according to Postmates. A local phone number and additional contact details are available via MapQuest.
Brand Context
Rita’s is a Pennsylvania-born franchise that has spread well beyond its home state, with more than 550 locations across 30 states, according to Patch. The company highlights its First Day of Spring promotion on its own website, an annual free-ice event that falls on March 20 this year, with details posted on Rita's official site. Regional reporting notes that local franchise openings such as the new 66th Street shop are part of a broader expansion that has added multiple Rita’s locations across Florida in recent seasons.
“We never forgot the memories we had of Rita’s,” the Browns told The Gabber, explaining why they chased the franchise and chose to open close to home. For now, the new outpost joins a crowded commercial corridor where neighbors can expect Rita’s signature fruit-forward Italian ice and custard treats to become a regular stop in the months ahead.
