Introduction to the Crisis
After Rite Aid announced in early May that it’s closing hundreds of stores after filing for bankruptcy, ice cream lovers around the country have started to panic about the availability of Thrifty Ice Cream. The drugstore chain may not be the only store to sell Thrifty Ice Cream, but other locations are not quite as plentiful. That’s bad news for enthusiastic fans of the frozen dessert, many of whom are voicing their concern on a Reddit subgroup devoted to Zillennials, or those born between the late 1990s and early 2000s.
History of Thrifty Ice Cream
According to the official Thrifty website, the ice cream brand got its start in a small factory in West Hollywood, California, in 1940. For years, the ice cream was sold by the cone at a counter at the flagship Thrifty Drug Store in downtown Los Angeles. Eventually, the drugstore’s shoppers could also purchase the ice cream in cartons to take home and enjoy. By the 1970s, Thrifty Ice Cream had developed a "cult status" on the West Coast, boasts its website with celebrities name-dropping the brand.
Acquisition by Rite Aid
Rite Aid acquired Thrifty Ice Cream in 1996, according to the Los Angeles Times. Some of the drugstore’s locations even kept with tradition to continue serving Thrifty Ice Cream in cones at ice cream counters. But now, as one of Rite Aid’s assets, Thrifty Ice Cream will be for sale at a June 20 auction as part of the company’s bankruptcy proceedings, according to Reuters.
Impact on Thrifty Ice Cream’s Future
So what does it mean for Thrifty Ice Cream’s future? TODAY.com reached out to Thrifty Ice Cream and Rite Aid to get the scoop, but hasn’t yet heard back. As of May 30, the Thrifty website says its ice cream is available in the freezer section of "favorite retailers," including Rite Aid, Albertsons and Vons. The ice cream can also be found "at scoop counters" across California and Arizona, along with a "growing number of regions in the U.S. and Mexico." Perhaps ominously, the site also includes a now-defunct link to a "store locator" meant to help customers find retailers that sell Thrifty Ice Cream.
Fan Reaction
As for those ice cream-loving Zillennials, they are leaning on one another in their most desperate hour. "If we work some Zillennial magic, we can save the ice cream," one wrote to boost spirits. "Thrifty has hands down the BEST ice cream and has always stayed affordable!!!" someone else chimed in. "The pistachio has so many pistachios the malted crunch!! And my favorite the mint n chip!!! I love the tiny slivers of chocolate.. WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO???? Others waxed nostalgic while simultaneously suggesting that miracles are possible.
Conclusion
The future of Thrifty Ice Cream remains uncertain as Rite Aid’s bankruptcy proceedings move forward. While the brand has a loyal following, its availability may be limited in the coming months. Fans of the ice cream are holding out hope that a solution will be found to keep Thrifty Ice Cream on store shelves and in scoop counters.
FAQs
Q: What is happening to Thrifty Ice Cream?
A: Thrifty Ice Cream is at risk due to Rite Aid’s bankruptcy and store closures. The brand is set to be sold at an auction as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.
Q: Where can I still buy Thrifty Ice Cream?
A: As of May 30, Thrifty Ice Cream is available in the freezer section of retailers like Rite Aid, Albertsons, and Vons, as well as at scoop counters in California, Arizona, and other regions.
Q: Can Thrifty Ice Cream be saved?
A: Fans of the brand are holding out hope that a solution will be found to keep Thrifty Ice Cream available, but the future remains uncertain.
Q: What is the history of Thrifty Ice Cream?
A: Thrifty Ice Cream was founded in 1940 in West Hollywood, California, and was acquired by Rite Aid in 1996. It has developed a cult following on the West Coast and is known for its unique flavors and affordable prices.
