Philadelphia Tribune - Index

Philadelphia Tribune - Summer Sojourner 2008 - Index

PAT’S KING OF STEAKS
1301 S. 9th St.
(215) 468-1546
RAY’S DELI
401 S. 56th St.
(215) 748-3236
CARIBBEAN /
WEST INDIAN
CARIBBEAN DELIGHT
1124 South St.
(215) 829-1030
HUMMINGBIRD RESTAURANT
1530 Wadsworth Ave.
(215) 247-1118
To Pamper the Palate - Listings
Continued from page 22
and storefront operations.
“At the end we were tested to make sure
that we were up to par on everything that
Rita’s stands for – from service to the quality
of the items (and) the perfect dome on
an order of water ice,” Jackson said.
Jim Rudolph, chief executive officer of
Rita’s Water Ice Franchise Co. LLC, said
the Jacksons’ location is one of the last
new stores slated for the Philadelphia
region.
The region, which
includes New
Jersey, is currently
home to 150 locations.
When
Rudolph and his
brother Bill purchased
the company
in 2005, they
embarked on a massive
growth strategy.
“We’ve really
changed the model
from what people
knew as Rita’s,”
Rudolph said.
Under their leadership, Rita’s has grown
from 319 to 515 locations in 17 states.
Plans are underway for the opening of
another 125 locations this year.
According to Rita’s Web site, new franchisees
make an estimated investment that
ranges from $197,950 through $396,800.
The majority of the new locations now
offer walk-in service instead of the traditional
walk-up windows.
“If you can go inside, then we think that
JAMAICAN JERK HUT
1436 South St.
5946 Germantown Ave.
(215) 545-8644
LITTLE DELICIOUS
4821 Woodland Ave.
(215) 729-4911
RON’S CARIBBEAN CAFÉ
5726 Old York Road
(215) 924-3966
CARIBBEAN CUISINE
6045 Baltimore Ave.
(215) 472-8553
it is a better opportunity for you to come to
us. So we’re really doing it for our guests,
and think that we can improve and
increase our business,” Rudolph said.
“This is a fun company. It’s a fun product.
It’s a fun business.”
As a part of its growth strategy, Rita’s
has rolled out new products such as the
Ritaccino – a coffee treat with vanilla custard
and vanilla Italian ice – and new ice
flavors such as Birthday Cake Cream, Key
Lime Pie, Georgia Peach, Sweet Tea and
Pumpkin Pie.
“My husband and
I are betting that the
Sweet Tea will be a
winner on Girard
Avenue,” said
Jackson, who claims
it’s her favorite flavor.
The Johnsons’
foray into the water
ice industry comes at
a time when the
franchising sector is
on the rise.
The International
Franchise Association recently released a
new economic study indicating that the
franchising sector of the economy has
expanded to over 18 percent from 2001 to
2005, adding over 140,000 new businesses
and 1.2 million new jobs to the nation’s
economy. Direct economic input of franchises
grew by over 40 percent to $880 billion
in 2005.
Ayana Jones
SOJOURNER SUMMER 2008
24
CONTINENTAL
BRASSERIE PERRIER
1619 Walnut Street
(215) 568-3000
THE FOUNTAIN
Four Seasons Hotel
1 Logan Square
(215) 963-1500 ext. 2611
LACROIX
210 W. Rittenhouse Square
(215) 790-2533
LE BEC-FIN
1523 Walnut St.
(215) 567-1000
HIBACHI
Pier 19, Columbus Blvd.
(215) 592-7100
THE RESTAURANT SCHOOL
4207 Walnut St.
(215) 222-4200
CUBAN
ALMA DE CUBA
1623 Walnut St.
(215) 988-1799
CUBA LIBRE
10 S. Second St.
(215) 627-0666
MIXTO
1141-43 Pine St.
(215) 592-0363
MEDITERRANEAN
ESTIA
1405-07 Locust Street
(215) 735-7700
FIGS
2501 Meredith Street
(215) 978-8440
MEXICAN
COBRE
812 N. Broad Street
(215) 235-1881
ITALIAN
BUCA DI BEPPO
258 S. 15th St.