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It's really summer now in South Philly: Italiano's water ice is open

The family-run shop, operating through a first-floor window on Shunk Street just east of 12th Street since the mid-1970s, had been keeping odd hours since brother Frankie Italiano died suddenly in early 2013.

Summer arrived in Lower Moyamensing on the afternoon of July 1:

That is when Italiano's water ice reopened.

Nanci Italiano and her pop, Domenick, reopened in 2014 as well as last year, though it operated four days a week. Last winter and into this spring, they wrestled with the future of the South Philadelphia institution.

Nanci prevailed. Not only is Italiano's back, it's running seven days a week - although opening time is at 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday and at noon Friday to Sunday. Nanci, with husband Carl and stepson Chase, keeps the window open till 10 or 10:30, depending on demand.

As Pat's King of Steaks is considered the originator of the cheesesteak, Italiano's lays claim to the creation of the gelati, that mixture of water ice and ice cream.

I'm partial to the water ice, which is delightfully refreshing without the cloying sweetness. Get the lime.

Italiano's, 2551 S. 12th St. (entrance on Shunk Street), no phone.