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Center City Shop Offering Free Water Ice On One Of The Coldest Days Of Winter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – "Wooder ice" is probably the last thing on your mind on a frigid day like today, but a local shop is giving it away for free.

After being vandalized back in 2014, the Spruce Street Rita's Water Ice is reopening today, and in celebration, the store is handing out free water ice to customers from noon to 9 p.m. Friday.

"We really wanted to open a bit earlier this year at the Rittenhouse location to show the neighborhood we're back!" said Ron Kauffman, the owner. "While most folks think of the first day of spring as the day Rita's opens, we actually start the season much earlier. But this year, spring is coming earlier to Center City."

And -- fun fact -- with temperatures in the single digits and the wind chill below zero, you'll actually be warming up with water ice, which is served at around 20 degrees!

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