Large Crowd At Rita's Signals Springtime In Severna Park

By Molly McCarthy,
SPHS Intern
Ice, custard, happiness!

On February 25, for the fifth straight season, Rita’s Italian Ice opened its doors to the Severna Park community to deliver just that. Since September 26, 2006, Rob and Sharon Marcus, the owners of Rita’s of Severna Park, have committed themselves to making the local store a family-oriented establishment and true staple in the neighborhood.
“We really are in the customer service industry, we just happen to sell frozen treats,” began Rob Marcus, adding, “We always put our guests first.”
With a 90 percent retention rate for employees and 60 to 90 applicants per season, Rita’s is not only the place to visit, but also the place to work. Alyssa Truffer, a sophomore at Towson University, has been working at Rita’s since it opened its doors in Old Severna Park Village five years ago.
“I love working at Rita's. Since I started working there my sophomore year of high school it's become a little family,” confessed Truffer. “I work with my best friends and we always have tons of fun, even though we are working. We are a really close group and I can't wait to return this summer!”
Rita’s is also well known in the area for consistently placing priority on its customers. On March 20, Rita’s of Severna Park will participate in free ice day, a celebration of the first day of spring where each customer will receive a free regular ice, which regularly sells for $2.39.
“The first day of spring event is a combination of store promotion and customer appreciation, so everyone benefits. I anticipate giving away over 3,500 cups this year,” declared Marcus.
Another visible sign of Rita’s commitment to the community occurs throughout the month of June, when customers have the option of donating a dollar on top of their original total, which is donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, an organization created to combat childhood cancer. Rita’s of Severna Park has raised over $2,000 every June for Alex’s Lemonade Stand.