Pizza is out and barbecue is in this fall on 1st Street in Rehoboth Beach.
Downtown Blues, from the group behind Bethany Blues in Lewes and Bethany Beach and The Starboard in Dewey Beach, will begin renovating the former Nicola Pizza building in October, owner Steve “Monty” Montgomery said in a news release. The restaurant is expected to open in spring 2023.
“While we were not planning to expand, when approached about this location, it just made too much sense,” Montgomery said.
Downtown Blues will serve Bethany Blues’ signature barbecue brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken and more. There will be “an emphasis on take out,” according to the news release, plenty of dine-in space and a small bar. They plan to be open year-round for lunch and dinner.
Montgomery has another restaurant in the works, too: Starboard Claw is expected to open in the former Hammerheads space in Dewey Beach this fall. Just across Route 1, the iconic Starboard bar and restaurant will remain.
Nicola delayed a move to a new building on Route 1 this summer due to construction delays. While its Rehoboth Avenue location remains open, the 1st Street location is open for take-out only.
The model train that circled above diners’ heads for all those years? It will move to the Lewes location with all the other memorabilia that adorned the walls, according to Montgomery.
What will stay at the 1st Street business are Nicola’s “long time operators,” Jessica Nathan and Zac Warner, the news release stated. They will become equity partners and continue running the restaurant as it transitions to Downtown Blues.
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