With summer right around the corner, residents now have another option in town to stay cool. Rita's Italian Ice in Yorktown, which opened doors on May 22, features Italian ice made with real fruit daily and served up in 70 flavors.
Owners David Goldes and Jeff Besselman will hold an official grand opening on Thursday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The first 50 customers in line, who must bring a new pet supply for donation for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, will receive free Italian ice for a year. The day will serve as a fundraiser for the guide dog school in Yorktown as Rita's owners will write a check to the non-profit organization.
"Since we live in the area, we always thought a Rita's would be a great asset to the town and the community," Goldes told Patch. "We and Rita's believe that connecting with the community is the only way to grow your business."
During the grand opening day, customers will receive handouts and consolation prizes for other guests in line who don't make the first 50 cut.
There will also be free regular Italian ice all day, Goldes said.
He and Besselman, who also have a Rita's Italian Ice store in Elmsford, know how important it is to give back to the community. They are Yorktown Athletic Club sponsors and have already done fundraisers with Crompond School. In addition, the business partners are sponsoring a booth at Yorktown's Relay for Life on June 14.
"Without the support of your local community, you cannot have have a successful store," said Goldes, whose background is in IT and publishing.
Rita's Italian Ice is located at 1881A Commerce Street in Yorktown Heights. For more information call 914-302-7711 or visit their website.
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