Former Franchise Owners of Boyertown's Rita's Water Ice Host 20-Year Reunion of Staff

by Jane Stahl

Rita's Water Ice in Boyertown, operated by Brenda and Parrish Stauffer, opened July 29, 2004; and, for the next 14 years, they and their staff opened the first day of spring. On their "first day of spring" openings over 14 years, they gave over 35,000 free ices; and by the time they retired, served over 500,000 customers.

On July 28, 2024, what was the 20th anniversary of their opening season, the Stauffers invited the 20+ members of their staff over the years to an afternoon reunion to celebrate the years they worked together and to remember the special times they shared.

Staff member Alyssa Miller Diener was one of the first to arrive to celebrate, recalling that she had delayed her honeymoon to be at work on the first day of spring.

Their staff, mostly high school  and college students, returned year after year and became loyal participants in the creative events the couple staged to have fun while promoting the business and raising funds for Alex's Lemonade Stand.

Riley Janiuk recalled head shaving for Alex's Lemonade. Each year a child who had survived cancer or was going through it was invited to begin the effort and shave Parrish's head.

Boyertown's Rita's raised over $180,000 for Alex's Lemonade over a 10-year period. The event was created to honor the children who lose their hair while battling cancer. 

Rita's went "on the road" to raise funds and involved the elementary schools in their effort. The students were encouraged to offer their change--pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters-- to "Help us change childhood cancer one cup at a time." They filled Rita's cups and their own containers with coins, and, for at least four years, the children contributed. The schools' donations totaled $8,000-$10,000 each year. 

When Parry came to collect coins from one of the schools, he was surprised at the children's offerings. One year he accepted and barely carried a five-gallon container that weighed over 200 pounds! To thank the children, each child was offered a coupon for a free ice the next time they visited Rita's.

To help everyone's memories, the Stauffers shared photograph albums they had created over the years.

The above photograph shows a trainee from China who came for two weeks to learn the franchise's ways to operate.  While the effort never  materialized in China due to issues with customs, the Stauffers enjoyed sharing their knowledge and experienced their own eduction in cultural differences. For example,their intern who stayed at Twin Turrets (now The Atherton) was surprised that streets were not crowded and that the air was "so clean."

During trips to area restaurants, they learned that young people in China were required to serve their elders--in ordering food and in carrying it--to tables or as take-out. Parry recalls one trip taking their intern to a Chinese restaurant. Their intern didn't recognize the food as authentic Chinese, and the servers did not pay immediate attention to them until their intern said something to the servers in Chinese. Instantly, the service improved! 

Another effort to provoke memories were the photographs of people and special events that had hung inside of the shop. During the afternoon, the photos triggered stories and smiles from the 20+ former staff members.

Olympic gold medalist--back-up goalie from Gilbertsville--Nicole Barnhart, whose aunt participated in the Stauffers' wedding, visited Rita's to the delight of staff. 

Dog Days were always popular events; the shop treated 40-50 dogs each year--on site or at other venues' locations. 

They shared flags each 4th of July. Participating in "No Place for Hate" events were important to the Stauffers and their staff. The "No Place for Hate" mural graced the west side of Rita's Water Ice for over 10 years.

Like the head shaving, the Ice Bucket Challenge held special memories for some; others came on their wedding day. 

One unexpected event was the arrival of the Big Banana Car. Its arrival preceded a planned event at the Walnut Woods retirement community. The car arrived in Boyertown 5 hours early; the driver offered to give rides on the car for a $5 donation toward the Big Banana Car's dream to journey around the world. (To learn more about the Big Banana Car, visit the Big Banana Car on Facebook.)

Involving the community and educating them, too, included Rita's Fire Safety Night.

Parry proudly points to the first dollars the shop earned each year.

I recall their generosity in their willingness to serve ices during the first year of the Arts & Alliance Activity. We invited them, and they came--during 90-degree summer afternoons--to refresh patrons and the artists who brought their work to exhibit on the Civic Club walkway into the Inner Core parking lot from South Reading Avenue.

Both Stauffers enjoyed their time running Rita's acknowledging that 100-hour weeks took their toll. They enjoyed serving people, inventing creative ways to promote the product they believed in, and in helping to build a joyful community through their assorted fundraising and outreach efforts. For the Stauffers, it was clear: they wanted everyone to "Have an ice day!"

More News from Boyertown

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• A Pictorial Tour Through the History of Boyertown: Main Street Businesses page 21 Main Street--page 21