Rita’s Italian Ice in Midway under new ownership

Erica Hite and Tom Minio weren’t looking to purchase a business, but when they saw a handwritten sign saying Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard in Midway Plaza Shopping Center was for sale, they decided to act.

There are multiple restaurants, the movie theater and the speedway park all in this area, said Hite, so it seemed like a good opportunity. 

The Rita’s in Midway opened roughly 20 years ago. Hite and Minio, engaged to be married, are the business’ fourth owners. They started looking into the purchase in January 2020, but then COVID-19 hit. It took a few months, but the financing eventually came through and the couple officially took over the business in June 2020, said Hite.

Minio said the first summer was spent learning the business on the fly. Typically, he said, there’s training done at corporate, but last summer that wasn’t an option.

“There were some challenges with remote training, but they got worked out,” said Minio. “Last year we were winging it.”

In at least one way, the business had already been set up to allow for COVID concerns because, in addition to inside service, there is also a walk-up window for customers.

It’s the only Rita’s in this area with a walk-up window and a full-service indoors, said Hite.

Minio and Hite closed the shop down for a couple months this winter to spruce things up – fresh paint, new signage, washing and waxing the floors, painting the exterior awning. They also had a new fusion machine installed, which enables them to produce 11 different flavors of frozen custard.

Hite and Minio also have three trailers, and they’ve recently signed up for DoorDash. There are also buckets to-go for those employee appreciation days, said Hite.

The couple have split management duties – Minio does a lot of the bookkeeping and backroom work, while Hite carries the day-to-day duties.

“There was a natural divide,” said Minio.

The couple both still have full-time jobs – Hite is the manager of a local doctor’s office; Minio works sales for a local HVAC company. Minio said the arrangement works well because Rita’s doesn’t open until noon, which means they can have someone open the store in the early afternoon and then they can come by after their other jobs.

Helping the couple is daughter Kaeleigh Hite, who will be a freshman at Cape Henlopen High School next year.

“This is a legit family business,” said Hite.

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard in Midway Plaza Shopping Center is open noon to 9 p.m., seven days a week. It will be open until 10 p.m. after Memorial Day.

For more information, call 302-645-4501, go to ritasice.com/location/ritas-of-rehoboth-beach or find it on Facebook.