Agave plans 2021 opening in old Jakes Seafood on Route 1

After leaving downtown Rehoboth Beach, Agave Tequila Bar and Restaurant has announced it will be opening a restaurant in the old Jakes Restaurant on Coastal Highway outside Rehoboth Beach. 

The restaurant made the announcement on its Facebook page Oct. 5.

“We have exciting news,” reads the post. “Today we have officially become the proud owners of Jake’s Seafood property on Route 1!!! We have been working hard on drawings for the remodel and plan on opening Agave mid 2021! Stay tuned for updates.”

It’s still unclear why the restaurant ceased work at its downtown location, which had been planned for a vacant lot at 230 Rehoboth Ave., but Rehoboth Beach City Solicitor Glenn Mandalas provided some insight into the restaurant’s decision during a planning commission meeting Sept. 11.

Near the conclusion of the meeting, Planning Commissioner Rachel Macha said she had seen the news the restaurant was leaving downtown. She then asked Mandalas if there were any legal issues.

Mandalas said an engineer had determined the concrete footers Agave poured for the new restaurant would not support the structure that had been designed. Agave had to consider a redesign and then COVID-19 hit, he said.

Ultimately, said Mandalas, Agave decided not to move forward with the project in Rehoboth Beach.

In an interview Oct. 5, Mike Firetti, business partner to restaurant founder Chris McKeown, declined to comment on why the restaurant had decided to leave downtown Rehoboth Beach. McKeown opened Agave in 2008 on Second Street in downtown Lewes.