Thrifty Ice Cream expands to Washington; Crown & Thistle opens Saturday in Coeur d’Alene

Just in time for warmer weather, the award-winning Thrifty Ice Cream is now available at Rite Aid stores in Washington, Idaho and Oregon in 48-ounce containers and in as many as eight flavors. Thrifty has been available in California for more than 80 years.

The eight flavors:

· Chocolate Malted Krunch: California milk, crispy mini malt balls and dark chocolate specks and flakes

· Rocky Road: chocolate, marshmallows and California almonds

· Mint Chocolate Chip: mint flavor and dark chocolate specks and flakes

· Pistachio Nut: rich, creamy and packed with California pistachios

· Cookies ’n Cream: chocolate cookie chunks and vanilla ice cream

· Butter Pecan: buttery flavored ice cream and butter-roasted pecans

· Chocolate Chip: vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate

· Vanilla: classic vanilla-flavored ice cream

“The Thrifty Ice Cream brand has been proudly sold in stores and enjoyed by customers for nearly 80 years,” said William Renz, senior vice president, category management and marketing, Rite Aid, in a news release. “Expanding the availability of this iconic brand is something we wanted to do for our customers to ensure that more generations of ice cream lovers can fall in love with this one-of-a-kind ice cream.”

Thrifty Ice Cream is made with Real California Milk, and many of the recipes have remained the same for 50 years. The Thrifty Ice Cream tradition began in 1940 when the first production plant opened in Hollywood, Calif.

In 1976, the plant relocated to El Monte, where it remains today. The brand has been winning awards for decades, including its first Los Angeles County Fair gold medal in 1952. Thrifty Ice Cream is currently available in 23 flavors in California.

· The Crown & Thistle (107 N. 4th St., downtown Coeur d’Alene) celebrates its grand opening this Saturday. Per its Facebook, doors swing open at 11 a.m. The beer will be flowing, the kitchen will be cooking, and the culmination of a decade-long dream will be celebrated. There will be specials throughout the day and a performance by the Coeur d’Alene Firefighters Pipes and Drums at 6 p.m. All ages are welcome.