REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - The iconic pizza chain, Grotto Pizza, is moving into the old Dolle's at Rehoboth Avenue and the Boardwalk.
"Being here all the years that I have, it was a bit of a shock, but it'll be fine everything will work out,” said Tom Ibach.
Dolle’s owner Tom Ibach was not the first to know about Grotto Pizza purchasing Dolle’s property.
"I found out online, one of the guys that works for me, came up to me and showed me his cell phone that Grotto had purchased the property, so it was kind of a shock to me that I found out that way,” said Ibach.
Ibach says he hasn’t heard from any Grotto representative yet, but believes he will soon.
Vice President of Grotto Pizza, Jeff Gosnear, said in a statement, "We felt this once-in-a-lifetime real estate opportunity was extremely important to the organization."
"I was a little surprised how fast a sale went through, but you know it's good that it's getting taken over, but the sign looks a little big to be on that location!” said Julia Ellis from Rehoboth Beach.
A little big is right.
"We're trying to get it down to 9 Rehoboth … right now it's not looking the best. The sign is too wide actually for the top of the store so there has to be some structural things done to the building to accommodate it,” said Ibach.
It will stay up until the end of the year, when it has to be taken down.
“Personally I would like to see Dolle's where it is, and I'd like to see Grotto have their location where they are now. I don't know that they need another spot on the corner,” said James Moore, another Rehoboth Beach resident.
Dolle’s new location, Ibach’s Candy by The Sea is under renovation and should be open in the next two to three weeks.
“Be patient. We'll be back, no formula change to anything, and I appreciate everybody's patience as well as the patronage from the last 94 years of the store,” said Ibach.
There won’t be any big changes yet, but Grotto pizza says the current lease will be honored, and the Dolle's storefront will be available for short term rentals.