North Richland Hills is about to get a frosty new habit. Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is opening a year-round drive-thru on July 1, serving its Italian ice, frozen custard, and layered gelati at 8900 N Tarrant Parkway. It is the first of four Rita’s locations slated for the Dallas-Fort Worth area this year, with the company leaning hard into drive-thru formats so fans can grab a cold treat long after triple-digit temps cool off.
The rollout kicks off with a “Scoop-er Cutting Ceremony” at 2 p.m. on June 30, followed by a public grand opening at noon on July 1, according to RestaurantNews.com. The first 50 guests in line will snag a Rita’s gift bag, and 20 of those bags will hide golden tickets. Ten tickets are good for a week of free Italian ice, and another ten unlock a week of free frozen custard. The company is inviting the public to the chamber-backed ceremony and steering fans to its site for flavor announcements.
“For more than 40 years, Rita’s has been part of the fabric of communities across the East Coast,” CEO Linda Chadwick said, as the brand pitches its DFW push as part of a broader growth run. RestaurantNews.com reports the chain has grown to more than 600 shops nationwide and that construction is already underway on three more DFW locations in Flower Mound, Carrollton and Farmers Branch. The local announcement lists a Champion Management contact for media inquiries as the franchisee gets the drive-thru ready for its July debut.
Drive-thrus and Year-Round Sales
Rita’s national expansion strategy leans on drive-thru layouts to keep sales humming beyond the summer rush, and the company is backing that plan with incentives meant to speed openings. Industry coverage details a package of cash and equipment credits worth up to $60,000 for eligible drive-thru franchisees, helping operators convert second-generation sites or add new lanes quickly, per QSRweb. That focus on curbside convenience is a big reason Rita’s is aiming to plant multiple drive-thru shops across DFW this year.
What This Means for North Texans
The company says each new shop will bring local hiring and plenty of first-job opportunities for high school and college students, a standard talking point in Rita’s development pitches. Broader coverage also shows the chain’s newer ownership has prioritized franchise growth and year-round formats to lift per-store sales and keep Rita’s a steadier neighborhood presence, according to reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Franchisees say they will announce opening dates for the Flower Mound, Carrollton and Farmers Branch locations as permitting and renovation work wraps.
