REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.--The iconic Dolle's Candyland sign was officially removed Wednesday morning from its Rehoboth Beach location.
After months of planning, and several hours spent prepping for its removal both Tuesday and Wednesday, the Dolle's sign came down with a little help from a team of workers and a crane. The sight brought tears to some people, locals and tourists alike, who had gathered to watch its removal.
Rob Mapou waited over four hours to see the sign come down. He said he's been coming to Rehoboth Beach from Maryland for the past 20 years until finally deciding to move closer to the beach. He can't help but see it as a sign of the times.
"You know, times change," he said. "We're in a period of transition in the country and now here in Rehoboth Beach; the building certainly looks empty without the sign and it's going to take a while to get used to that."
Nicole Durrell said she ran over from her house after hearing the big news. For the past 50 years she too, has spent her summers in Rehoboth Beach.
"It's something I actually never thought would ever happen," she said. "It's so iconic and it's such a part of the Rehoboth boardwalk, and it makes me very, very sad today."
Nevertheless, Mapou said that although the historic sign is gone, the shop itself is here to stay.
"The nice thing is that we still have Dolle's, it hasn't disappeared, a lot of my friends have said 'is it gone?' And I said 'no, it's just two doors down from where it was.'"
In fact Dolle's Owner Tom Ibach said he's thankful the the new location is doing well.
"I think people like the new concept of walking in 'cause we've always been over the counter and now that they get to walk in and browse, I think they like that a little bit better."
In the meantime, the city board of adjustment will meet on Dec. 27 to decide if the sign will be placed on the Rehoboth Beach Museum. Until then, it will remain stored in a secure location.