Last remnants of Nicola Pizza removed from Rehoboth Beach

After more than 50 years overlooking North First Street, the awning from the original Nicola Pizza in downtown Rehoboth Beach was removed Jan. 13. A three-man team from Milton-based Rogers Sign Co. took down the gold-and-red awning featuring the life-sized caricatures of founders Nick and Joan Caggiano.

The Caggianos founded Nicola Pizza on North First Street in 1971. A second location opened on Rehoboth Avenue in 2010. The original restaurant closed in mid-June. The Rehoboth Avenue restaurant closed Sept. 5. The new location on Route 1 outside Lewes is on property adjacent to Ocean One Plaza – 17323 Coastal Highway; it has been open since the end of October.

Gone are the Rehoboth Beach connections, but it appears Nicola Pizza enthusiasts will have an opportunity to own a piece of the pizzeria’s history.

Nicola Pizza General Manager Kelly Munyan, daughter of Joan’s twin sister Janet, said the restaurant will hold an auction with items from both of the downtown locations that can't be used at the new location. A date has not been set for the auction, but she said she thinks it may be this spring.

The date will be announced as soon as one is booked, said Munyan.

Downtown Blues, a restaurant run by the company that owns Bethany Blues and The Starboard, is taking over the space on North First Street.

The removal of the awning wasn’t the only project the Rogers crew had that day, as the team also installed the awnings for the new Tiki Jac’s, which is going into Nicola Pizza’s former Rehoboth Avenue restaurant.