# Bella Vista: Pop's Water Ice Stands Strong

![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/26021254/sp1127joe-150x150.jpg)Joe Raffa's great-grandfather started Pop's Water Ice. Water ice and soft pretzels are not only a match made in heaven but also one of the first signs of spring to many Philadelphians.  Pop’s Water Ice, located at 1337 Oregon Ave., has been serving customers for 79 years. “My great-grandfather, who was an immigrant from Italy, walked around with a pushcart. He carted ice and used lemon juice. That’s how Pop’s Water Ice started,” said Joe Raffa, a manager at the store. What sets Pop’s Water Ice away from corporate competitions, such as Rita’s Water Ice, is that it has a close relationship with the customers. Raffa explained, “We have tradition and this has been family owned and operated since 1932. so everything we make is authentic and made with love.  And because we’re not worried about corporate sales or anything like that so we have a very intimate relationship with our customers. We have very loyal customers and we’re very thankful for that. “ ![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/26021254/sp1127southpops-150x150.jpg)Joe Garrifo has been coming here since childhood. One of those customers, Joe Gariffo of South Philadelphia, was getting his water ice on a cold and rainy day. He said, “I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid, so it’s kind of a loyalty thing.”