rita's in chestnut hill

**jen** · 11-16-2011, 09:44 AM

Rita's Water Ice in the Works for Chestnut Hill - Chestnut Hill, PA Patch

i suspect the trolley car would be none too pleased about this.

i dear hope the nutty hill business association cooperates. that plaza is awfully depressing and it's the first retail area people see when they drive/walk/take the 23 into chestnut hill from the south on germantown ave.

**bungee** · 11-16-2011, 09:51 AM

Yum. Their pear water ice this summer was great.

**stonefly** · 11-16-2011, 10:24 AM

I agree that the plaza needs some life. I think a Rita's would be a good fit.

**BenDee** · 11-16-2011, 10:30 AM

It wouldn't be the first 'quick-service' food establishment there - I remember a pizza place in the small 2nd floor area (adjacent to Mermaid Lane) years ago.

Too bad it isn't Rocco's - their water ice is head and shoulders above Ritas.

**Longboat** · 11-16-2011, 01:59 PM

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it, but I can't help but be amused over the "fast food" question. I can't think of anything faster than dumping a couple of scoops of water ice into a paper or plastic cup. I suppose one might argue that water ice isn't really food, but if this use is allowed surely the "fast food" prohibition at that center goes out the window.

And yeah, I not only remember the pizza place, I ate there a couple of times. I also remember a big row over allowing Yu Hsiang restaurant to locate there. At that time, I thought it was odd that the pizza place got a green light while all sorts of roadblocks were erected for the Chinese restaurant.

In any case, it's good to see some interest in rebuilding this little commercial area.

**Tocchet** · 11-18-2011, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Longboat

In any case, it's good to see some interest in rebuilding this little commercial area.

Exactly. I drove by it the other day and thought to myself, "what the heck are they going to do with this depressing strip mall?"

**jen** · 12-16-2011, 02:40 PM

it's a go!

Rita’s OK’d for old TLA Video spot | | Chestnut Hill Local Philadelphia PAChestnut Hill Local Philadelphia PA

**Zeppoloveskafka** · 12-16-2011, 09:07 PM

I suppose it will work out and it's nice to see some life there, but I'll step up as the first person against this. A block away is the Trolley Car Diner which serves water ice in an interesting way. It's a destination that many families go to, and it's memorable to children. Now I'm sure Rita's will steal a bit of that business away. So way to go big chain stealing business away from something with more of a creative identity.
I'm not saying that it's some horrible idea, but just one more step in the dumbing down of our society.

**toxigal** · 12-16-2011, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Zeppoloveskafka

I suppose it will work out and it's nice to see some life there, but I'll step up as the first person against this. A block away is the Trolley Car Diner which serves water ice in an interesting way. It's a destination that many families go to, and it's memorable to children. Now I'm sure Rita's will steal a bit of that business away. So way to go big chain stealing business away from something with more of a creative identity.
I'm not saying that it's some horrible idea, but just one more step in the dumbing down of our society.

what is interesting about the way the trolley car diner serves water ice? and really, our society can be dumbed down by frozen flavored water?

**hubba1** · 12-16-2011, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Zeppoloveskafka

I suppose it will work out and it's nice to see some life there, but I'll step up as the first person against this. A block away is the Trolley Car Diner which serves water ice in an interesting way. It's a destination that many families go to, and it's memorable to children. Now I'm sure Rita's will steal a bit of that business away. So way to go big chain stealing business away from something with more of a creative identity.
I'm not saying that it's some horrible idea, but just one more step in the dumbing down of our society.

I never heard of the trolley car's interesting water ice delivery... I don't think Ritas is going to steal much business from a diner, most people who go to the diner, probably go to actually eat. Does the Trolley car have THAT many walk ins that JUST want a water ice? I doubt it.

**Jayfar** · 12-16-2011, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by toxigal

what is interesting about the way the trolley car diner serves water ice? and really, our society can be dumbed down by frozen flavored water?

Originally Posted by hubba1

I never heard of the trolley car's interesting water ice delivery... I don't think Ritas is going to steal much business from a diner, most people who go to the diner, probably go to actually eat. Does the Trolley car have THAT many walk ins that JUST want a water ice? I doubt it.

Apparently the water ice and ice cream is served from an actual PCC trolley car adjacent to the diner.

**Longboat** · 12-16-2011, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by Zeppoloveskafka

I suppose it will work out and it's nice to see some life there, but I'll step up as the first person against this. A block away is the Trolley Car Diner which serves water ice in an interesting way. It's a destination that many families go to, and it's memorable to children. Now I'm sure Rita's will steal a bit of that business away. So way to go big chain stealing business away from something with more of a creative identity.
I'm not saying that it's some horrible idea, but just one more step in the dumbing down of our society.

I doubt it will impact Trolley Car Diner that much. First of all, the diner serves food as well as water ice and the Trolley Car itself not only dispenses water ice but also ice cream, and ice cream seems to be the more popular offering. Second, I can't imagine that the outside seating at the new Rita's would be better than what Trolley Car offers. It's not clear where the outside seating for Rita's will be but there's just a strip of sidewalk there between the parking lot and the storefronts and it sounds like they plan to just put some plastic chairs and tables out there during business hours. Doesn't seem particularly inviting to me.

Besides all that, I'm sure water ice is a tiny, tiny portion of Trolley Car's business. Even if Ritas managed to gobble up all the water ice sales along there, it wouldn't have much impact on Trolley Car.

**Jayfar** · 12-16-2011, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by Longboat

Besides all that, I'm sure water ice is a tiny, tiny portion of Trolley Car's business. Even if Ritas managed to gobble up all the water ice sales along there, it wouldn't have much impact on Trolley Car.

On the other hand, Rita's sells more than just water ice; frozen custard for example.

Rita

**Zeppoloveskafka** · 12-17-2011, 09:50 AM

I'm not implying that Rita's is going to shut down the Trolley Car, nor am I saying that the Trolley Car is the most amazing thing in the world. However for a young child, the experience of walking up to the top of the trolley car and looking at the whole thing, it actually is sort of magical. For many adults it doesn't matter in the slightest. The Trolley Car is somewhat unique, Rita's... well the next closest one is about a mile away.

The reality is in a world where many people shop online, there is less of a need for physical stores... I can't think of anything that this Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill spot needs that isn't already readily available.

My point is it's just another large chain moving in selling a product already available. They might as well just kick out the Chinese restaurant and put a massive gas station there, since that spot would probably be a prime location.

**Bob_Head** · 12-17-2011, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Zeppoloveskafka

I suppose it will work out and it's nice to see some life there, but I'll step up as the first person against this. A block away is the Trolley Car Diner which serves water ice in an interesting way. It's a destination that many families go to, and it's memorable to children. Now I'm sure Rita's will steal a bit of that business away. So way to go big chain stealing business away from something with more of a creative identity.

I'm confused. Is Rita's going to run over and abduct Trolley Car patrons, transport them to their new store, and force them to eat water ice? If not, how are they stealing anything? Another, less hysterical way of looking at it is they're offering customers a choice. Either customers will find the Trolley Car interesting and unique, and appreciate the quality, or they won't. It's called choice. There's a McDonald's in Chestnut Hill, too. That's sure killed off the restaurant scene there, hasn't it. Oh, wait. No, it hasn't. Chestnut Hill Coffee exists a block and a half away from Starbucks. How could you be against this?

I'm not saying that it's some horrible idea, but just one more step in the dumbing down of our society.

No, the real dumbing down of our society is when you don't give people options and choices. Just spoon feed them what you think is good and right. Why give them reasons to think for themselves?

**Zeppoloveskafka** · 12-17-2011, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by Bob_Head

I'm confused. Is Rita's going to run over and abduct Trolley Car patrons, transport them to their new store, and force them to eat water ice? If not, how are they stealing anything? Another, less hysterical way of looking at it is they're offering customers a choice. Either customers will find the Trolley Car interesting and unique, and appreciate the quality, or they won't. It's called choice. There's a McDonald's in Chestnut Hill, too. That's sure killed off the restaurant scene there, hasn't it. Oh, wait. No, it hasn't. Chestnut Hill Coffee exists a block and a half away from Starbucks. How could you be against this?

No, the real dumbing down of our society is when you don't give people options and choices. Just spoon feed them what you think is good and right. Why give them reasons to think for themselves?

How poetic and naive. Do people go to McDonalds because their food is better than anywhere else and they are making a choice? No, it's because it's been marketed down their throat. There is an illusion of choice, whereas in reality there is a huge amount of research that goes into calculating the way our brains work and manipulating them.

I assumed it didn't need to be explained that when I said "stealing customers" it meant taking customers that had previously been going to another establishment...it's a pretty common expression and does not imply anything illegal or even immoral being done, much in the same way a baseball player stealing a base isn't actually taking the base and exiting the ballpark.

It's the same argument I'm using for Fresh Market not coming into Chestnut Hill (at the expense of Weaver's Way). It's nice in theory for people to have choices, but people tend to make choices that are not in their (collective) best interest. Few people are patient and educated enough to fully calculate the value of each decision they make and how it affects many other people. The bottom line "I can save x amount of money here, or this tastes better" rules the day. The collective decision to turn our country into a monopoly of Walmarts and large chains is that wages have gone down for the middle/lower class, and for the upper class profit has soared. This economic power has led to political power to literally buy elections and representatives so that a miniscule minority of people literally run our country (look at the current news...Republicans fighting for their lives to make sure there is no new tax on millionaires and Democrats easily caving in). People don't look at the value of small/bigstores...Weaver's Way adds to the community while Fresh Market would subtract.

I'm not trying to go off on a tangent. Just trying to say that it's not simply a matter of customers having two places to buy their Water Ice. I don't know if Rita's is an evil chain (most are) or not, but anytime a large chain moves in, I don't consider it a step in the right direction.

**Bob_Head** · 12-17-2011, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Zeppoloveskafka

How poetic and naive.

How ignorant and cynical. I've spent a long time in media and marketing. It doesn't work that way. It never has. Lots of businesses and products that spend tens of millions on media and marketing fail all the time. It's not that simple. When McDonald's revamped their menus and stores recently it wasn't in response to the government or public pressure, it was because their market share was declining rapidly. People were going places where the could get better quality. Wisely, McDonald's didn't try more advertising, or go for a price advantage, the made a better product.

Do people go to McDonalds because their food is better than anywhere else and they are making a choice?

Yes, they do. Believe it or not, not everyone is you. Tastes and values are different. Better is subjective. Perhaps the concept of individuality is foreign to you.

I assumed it didn't need to be explained that when I said "stealing customers" it meant taking customers that had previously been going to another establishment...

Yes, I get that. I was just pointing out the absurdity of your position. Even the concept of them "taking customers" is absurd. A business doesn't steal or take. Customers choose. If there's no demand for a business, it can't do anything on its own.

It's nice in theory for people to have choices

But not in practice, right? So you're against choice?

but people tend to make choices that are not in their (collective) best interest.

So?

Few people are patient and educated enough to fully calculate the value of each decision they make and how it affects many other people.

That's a fine argument for aristocracy.

The bottom line "I can save x amount of money here, or this tastes better" rules the day.

Yes. I freely admit to shopping where I can get the product I want at the price I want. I buy things that taste better. Is that wrong?

The collective decision to turn our country into a monopoly of Walmarts and large chains....

This is simply not true. I seldom shop at Walmart, or any large chain. If they were monopolies, I couldn't shop, right? I'd have no choice. But I do. There are lots of small and independent business out there. Look at Chestnut Hill. One McDonald's. One. And at least 40 other restaurants. Why is that? Is the neighborhood north of Mermaid Lane the only one in town where the people are smart and wise enough to think for themselves? I don't think so. My neighborhood of mostly working-class black folk of modest education and means does pretty well for itself. When Domino's opened a pizza place here, it quickly folded. Yes, Domino's has the marketing edge (the other guys don't even stick menus in our doors), but the other guys are better. Most people aren't as stupid as you think.

This economic power has led to political power to literally buy elections and representatives so that a miniscule minority of people literally run our country (look at the current news...Republicans fighting for their lives to make sure there is no new tax on millionaires and Democrats easily caving in).

But, on the other hand, you argue that people aren't smart enough to think for themselves (and that's implicitly at the heart of your assertion, "Few people are patient and educated enough to fully calculate the value of each decision they make and how it affects many other people"). You rail against the oligarchs while making an argument for aristocracy. The irony is more delicious than anything I could get at the Trolley Car or Weaver's Way. Okay, maybe not as delicious as the African Peanut Soup at Weaver's....that's the sh!ts.

People don't look at the value of small/bigstores...Weaver's Way adds to the community while Fresh Market would subtract.

Sure they do. That just don't weigh the value in the same way you do.

Just trying to say that it's not simply a matter of customers having two places to buy their Water Ice.

No, it really is that simple. If the Trolley Car really is that special and unique, if they really offer a product of better quality, they've got nothing to worry about. How long did Borders sell music right across the street from Hideaway's front door? Which one is still there? Simple, isn't it.

**Bob_Head** · 12-17-2011, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by toxigal

what is interesting about the way the trolley car diner serves water ice? and really, our society can be dumbed down by frozen flavored water?

Philistine! How can you not appreciate that the difference between being served your frozen mixture of sugar, water and fruit juice from a sliding glass window or an actual trolley car presents an existential threat to our intellectual and cultural well being!

**borntochill** · 12-17-2011, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by Bob_Head

If the Trolley Car really is that special and unique, if they really offer a product of better quality, they've got nothing to worry about.

Actually, Trolley Car has nothing to worry about in spite of its general lack of quality, high prices, bland food, and feckless service. They seem to do a brisk business anyway.

But Zeppo, you're not talking about the diner; you're talking about Trolley Car's ice cream, right? It must be a unique, delicious, all-natural product made by Amish farmers in Lancaster County, right?

Nope. It's Edy's, a subsidiary of the multinational giant Nestle Corporation, which is still being boycotted by some organizations for promoting breast milk substitutes (infant formula) in the world's poorest countries. There's absolutely nothing special or local about the product. You can buy it in almost any supermarket anywhere. Except at the supermarket, you'd quite possibly get an entire container of ice cream for what Trolley Car charges for a little cup of it.

Rita's was started by a Philadelphia firefighter and is currently headquartered in Trevose, PA about 14 miles from Mount Airy.

**borntochill** · 12-17-2011, 08:57 PM

Oh...and next time you're in the supermarket buying ice cream and are irked about the half-gallon container that shrunk to 1.75 quarts and then shrunk further to 1.5 quarts, you can thank Edy's for that. Nestle Corporation insisted on a smaller container to increase profits. Other ice cream manufacturer's followed the downsizing move.