LEWES, Del. - The First Town is closer to getting a taste of the Nation's Summer Capital. Nicola Pizza's preliminary site plans have received approval from the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission. The home of the famous Nic-o-Boli will still be across from Grotto Pizza, just five miles north of its longtime Rehoboth Avenue location.
Nicola Pizza has been on First Street since 1971 and on Rehoboth Avenue since 2010, but the Rehoboth Beach icon is moving to the Ocean One Plaza, which is right off of Coastal Highway in Lewes. Nick Caggiano Jr. tells me that the 3 tons of concrete that was a self-storage facility here will be demolished early next week.
The preliminary site plan shows where the two-story 9,640 square-foot restaurant will be constructed with 144 free parking spaces, giving customers a cheaper and easier way to get a taste of the beach.
Tina McQuade of Lewes says the first town needs more pizza options. She tried Nicolas for the first time Friday to get a taste before it moves closer to her.
"In the summertime it's a little tough getting down here, so we're excited to have a local family coming closer to Lewes instead of just being down here," McQuade says.
Dan Neumann of Lewes also thinks a location on the highway is more convenient, but says he'll miss it in Rehoboth.
"It just brings me back to my youth for one thing, just the invention of the Nic-o-Boli and the instant popularity of it," Neumann says.
The memorable restaurant's move creates concerns for the Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber of Commerce
"At least 60 percent of our visitation is return visitation," says President and CEO Carol Everhart. "It's generational. They are used to things that give them memory... When you lose an icon, it's not a good thing."
Caggiano confirmed on Friday that both Rehoboth Beach locations will be sold. Previously he has told WRDE that this move is nothing against the city. It's a better business opportunity for future generations of his family.
"I own the hotel out there and this property is right next to it, so this property just made it so much of a no-brainer," Caggiano told WRDE in August 2020.
The restaurant would create more lunch options for hotel guests and employees at surrounding businesses, like Fusion H2O.
"We're excited that we'll have parking there for everyone," says Salon Coordinator Cassandra Parker. "Lewes has grown so much, so we're just excited to have Nicola's here."
Caggiano says an architect is currently working on the final site plan, which will be reviewed by Planning and Zoning once all of the county and agency approvals go through. He's hoping to open Nicola Pizza in Lewes in the spring of 2022.