Years in the making, the new Nicola Pizza location outside Lewes on Route 1 has opened.

It’s going good, said Nick Caggiano Jr. a few minutes into opening day Tuesday, Oct. 25. There are a few kinks to work out, but this place is great, he said.

Nicola Pizza was founded on North First Street in Rehoboth Beach by Nick Caggiano Sr. and his late wife Joan in 1971. A second location opened on Rehoboth Avenue in 2010. In August 2020, the family announced the restaurant was leaving downtown Rehoboth for a new site on Route 1 outside Lewes on property adjacent to Ocean One Plaza – 17323 Coastal Highway.

The original restaurant on North First Street closed in mid-June. The Rehoboth Avenue restaurant closed Sept. 5.

Kelly Munyan, longtime general manager and the daughter of Joan's twin sister Janet, said the pizzeria held a soft opening this past weekend and things went great. There were a few computer issues, but overall it went well, she said.

Sporting a red Phillies cap, Mary Vo said she’s a three-decade supporter of the restaurant and was the first person in line on purpose.

“I’ve been looking forward to this since the restaurant in Rehoboth closed,” she said.

Jennifer Fox was among the first customers to use the takeout windows. She ordered a few half-cooked Nic-O-Bolis to take back to Pennsylvania with her. 

“We have a place down here,” she said. “We didn’t come down for the opening, but we delayed going back for the opening.”

Nicola Pizza is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. For more information, call 302-226-BOLI (2654) or go to nicolapizza.com.