Rita's Italian Ice is planting two new flags in North Jersey, with locations headed to Newark and Clifton under a franchise group co-founded by Ralonda Johnson. The frozen dessert chain already counts more than 40 locations across New Jersey, and the new sites will push its footprint even deeper into the state's biggest cities.
The Newark and Clifton stores will be operated by Disrupt Foods, the Piscataway-based franchise developer co-founded by Chief Investment and Financial Officer Ralonda Johnson, according to 94.5 PST. Johnson, who has ties to Newark, told the outlet that opening a location there feels like bringing part of her own story back home. Disrupt Foods operates under Jenkins' Malcolm Inc. umbrella, according to WHYY.
Johnson said she hopes the Newark shop becomes more than just a stop for a cup of ice — a place, per 94.5 PST's report, where residents can create memories, celebrate milestones, and spend time together. The station also reports that four other groups are looking to open additional Rita's locations across central and north Jersey, according to NJ.com, suggesting the Newark and Clifton openings are just the leading edge of a broader regional push.
A Franchise Group With Momentum Beyond Jersey
Disrupt Foods isn't stopping at New Jersey. The company announced plans in July to open a Rita's shop in Brockton, Massachusetts, part of a franchise operation that now tops 40 units, according to a release carried by PR Newswire. Beyond Rita's, Disrupt Foods also develops other fast-casual brands including Papa Johns and Wingstop locations.
The expansion push lines up with a corporate growth spurt at Rita's itself. Franchise ownership inquiries have surged 100 percent year-over-year, the same PR Newswire release notes, a trend the company attributes to an average cost of goods sold under 18 percent and no fryer or heavy kitchen buildout required. That kind of low overhead has made converting existing retail spaces into Rita's shops appealing even as broader restaurant costs climb.
Private Equity And A Push Toward Drive-Thrus
Much of that momentum traces back to new ownership. Trevose, Pennsylvania-based Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard took on a majority growth investment from private equity firm Maple Park Capital Partners in January 2025 to fuel its national expansion, according to Restaurant Dive. The firm specializes in consumer and experiential service businesses.
Rita's Chief Development Officer Lawrence Brown rolled out a drive-thru incentive program in February offering up to $60,000 in cash and equipment support for new sites, after 2025 system data showed drive-thru locations generated 38 percent higher average sales than walk-up stores, per QSRweb. It's not yet clear whether the Newark or Clifton locations will follow that drive-thru format or stick with a traditional walk-up layout, and exact addresses and opening dates for both New Jersey stores have not been announced.
A 40-Year-Old Philadelphia Tradition
Rita's traces its roots to 1984, when former Philadelphia firefighter Bob Tumolo founded the chain in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, and named it after his wife. The company enforces a strict freshness policy requiring that each batch be sold within 36 hours of mixing, a standard detailed by Mashed. Tumolo reportedly perfected the original recipe with his mother using real fruit before franchising the concept in 1989.
By mid-2026, Rita's had grown to more than 600 locations across 30 states, with its heaviest concentration still in the Mid-Atlantic region, according to the same PR Newswire release. Systemwide sales hit $182 million across 547 locations in 2023, with individual units averaging roughly $340,000 in annual volume, per Restaurant Dive. The chain has doubled its franchising opportunities since last year, according to 94.5 PST, and continues to lean on its annual First Day of Spring giveaway — a free-item tradition running more than 25 years — to build early-season foot traffic ahead of summer.
The Philadelphia-style water ice Rita's popularized is distinct from coarser shaved ice or snow cones, known for a fine, smooth, stirrable texture with no dairy, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. That Philadelphia connection gives the Newark and Clifton openings a bit of regional homecoming as the brand pushes further into North Jersey.
