Rita's Italian Ice to Replace Roman Frieze
- Thread starter horsesboy
- Start date
I've known about this project for a while now and, as I'm sure many of you can guess, I absolutely detest it. Normal, American chains are horrible for the park and should not even be considered as an option at BGW. Tremendously disappointing.
That said, given that SEAS corporate appears to be forcing every park in the chain to add Rita's (we are one of the very last hold-outs), I think this is just about the best possible outcome. It's replacing the park's lesser ice cream shop, it's being installed in the dumping ground of all trash at BGW (Festa Italia), and it's still at least "Italian Ice" in one of the park's Italian hamlets.
I am staunchly opposed to this addition and I think whoever signed this deal up at corporate doesn't belong in the $PRKS offices anymore. Despite that opinion, given the possible outcomes, I think BGW management came up with what was probably the best possible solution to minimize the negative impact of installing a Rita's at BGW.
That said, given that SEAS corporate appears to be forcing every park in the chain to add Rita's (we are one of the very last hold-outs), I think this is just about the best possible outcome. It's replacing the park's lesser ice cream shop, it's being installed in the dumping ground of all trash at BGW (Festa Italia), and it's still at least "Italian Ice" in one of the park's Italian hamlets.
I am staunchly opposed to this addition and I think whoever signed this deal up at corporate doesn't belong in the $PRKS offices anymore. Despite that opinion, given the possible outcomes, I think BGW management came up with what was probably the best possible solution to minimize the negative impact of installing a Rita's at BGW.
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To be fair, Rita's at SWO and BGT always seem to be at minimum popular, if not outright slammed, every time I pass by.
The external chains being popular at the parks make it an even worse decision.
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This also likely means an end to Dolewhip and that is a tragedy
It’s probably just a memory that is propped up/laced with the nostalgia of going to BGW as someone who doesn’t get there often, but years ago I had a strawberry-banana smoothie from Roman Frieze that I think was the best smoothie I have ever had, and I think about it often. This is a gut punch.
Considering we could’ve lost 2 other much better options over what we are losing, I’ll take it. I’d rather lose soft serve over gelato or hard scooped ice cream. At least Rita’s is pretty good. As much as I dislike Rita’s coming to BGW, it’s better than the originally proposed sweet frog that got axed several years back, that would’ve replaced the ice cream place under the glockenspiel.
Preach. I don't remember if that proposal ever actually leaked publicly until now, but god, THAT was one of MANY possible FAR worse options BGW could have gone with.
Again, I hate this Rita's thing and I am terrified that we're still only at the start of the chain invasion, BUT I still can't help but think we dodged a bit of a bullet this time. Of the options available, this is far, far less bad than many other seriously-considered proposals.
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Absolutely much less atrocious than other options. And like you pointed out, at least the Italian ice being in well, Italy (sorta), at least is thematically appropriate.
The good news I suppose is that they never seem to stay forever. Just give it 10 years maybe.
Does anyone know, does the park hire and maintain employees for Rita’s or does Rita’s maintain staffing? That could be a silver lining if this relieves some hiring stress from the park if they maintain there own crew.
Seaworld Orlando has hired their own employees for Rita’s, they just get all their stock and such through Rita’s.
Way better Roman Frieze being replaced with Rita's than Italy Gelato.
Wonder how this will effect the e eryones favorite hot cocoa location in the park.
Also we wish the park would try to get all the other unused or rarely used food locations to stay open before they replace one that's been open year round for years.
Also we wish the park would try to get all the other unused or rarely used food locations to stay open before they replace one that's been open year round for years.
Better this than Chick-Fil-A...
Rita's has been very popular at SWO and BGT as mentioned above. It's doing much more business than the previous food stands that they took over.
Rita's has been very popular at SWO and BGT as mentioned above. It's doing much more business than the previous food stands that they took over.
So funny somewhat irrelevant thing but related:
It’s an issue I have with my employer right now where they make decisions at HQ by people who haven’t worked in the field in a long time, and aren’t based on what’s happening in the field.
I feel like this was a decision made by someone behind a computer looking at a spreadsheet rather than someone that’s in the park understanding what the attitude in park is.
My issue, to be honest, with Roman Frieze has always been that there wasn’t really a nice quiet outdoor spot to sit while eating it. But hey, at lease I could have a cone and walk around with it. But Rita’s almost requires you to sit while eating it because it’s a two handed treat. This is making it even less likely I would visit.
Since it sounds like the Rita's locations at other PRKS properties are operated by the parks rather than leasing the space to actual Rita's franchises (a la Kings Dominion), it's very possible that they will still replace it with the hot coco place seasonally.
I will also say this though: If it's being run by BGW rather than being leased to a third party operator, I really, desperately wish this was a "ROMAN FRIEZE Proudly Serving Rita's Italian Ice" situation rather than branding the full location to Rita's. I don't like outside, branded food being served by BGW, but if BGW sincerely believes the outside vendor produces a better product and can integrate it thematically into their hamlets, I'm pretty fine with it (see: Annie's Cafe or M. Sweets Confectionary serving Starbucks). That is VASTLY more palatable to me than getting a big Rita's sign plastered up inside BGW.
I just have to keep reminding myself: "At least it's in Festa. Just don't go to Festa. Life is better without Festa."
