The countdown is on for local businesses to finish projects before the season begins, and if everything goes as planned, the expansion of the south Boardwalk location for Zelky’s Beach Arcade in Rehoboth Beach will be completed within that time frame.

“We’re really pushing for Memorial Day weekend,” said owner Matt Weiner.

Zelky’s Beach Arcade has been a Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk staple since the original was opened in its current north Boardwalk location in 1985. The arcade, known for its elephant mascot and bright-pink color scheme, opened a second Boardwalk location south of Rehoboth Avenue in 2013, which is now being expanded.

Zelky’s purchased the building, and Ryan’s Beach Shop didn’t renew its lease, said Weiner, so they decided the best thing to do was to connect the two properties. The new Zelky’s will be almost two-thirds larger, he said.

The expanded space will allow the arcade to bring in a whole new range of video games, including full-motion and virtual reality, said Weiner. There will also be a kids’ section, he said.

Keeping with tradition, Zelky’s will be bringing back rooftop mini-golf. There has been a mini-golf course at this location since 1964, and it moved to the roof after the building was constructed in the early 1970s, said Weiner. He thinks his new course will be the fourth one.

It’s going to be a classic wooden golf course, but with Zelky’s own flair, he said, and the equipment was expected to arrive soon after he was interviewed for this article.

Zelky’s is in the entertainment business, and bringing back the mini-golf seemed like the appropriate thing to do, said Weiner. He noted that people are always complaining about the loss of nostalgia, and what’s more nostalgic than mini-golf at the beach? On a practical note, he said credit cards will be accepted for mini-golf.

That original arcade on the north side falls within the footprint of the One Rehoboth Avenue Hotel project that recently began site work between Baltimore and Rehoboth avenues. The arcade building and the former Dolle’s Candyland on the south corner of the block are slated to be demolished in the fall. Demolition for the hotel began a couple of weeks ago with the Grotto Pizza and Sirocco Motel structures. Grotto Pizza is one of the partners developing the hotel and will move its restaurant to the Rehoboth Avenue corner when construction is complete.

Weiner said they’ll be out of the original location by the middle of September, but expect to have pretty much the same Boardwalk location when the new space opens two summers from now.

“Pizza and games go hand in hand,” said Weiner. 

To celebrate 40 years in business, Zelky’s will host its inaugural Beach Ball Drop event at the south location at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 24, during Memorial Day weekend. The actual ball drop will commence at noon.

Forty years is a big deal, and this felt like a good way to celebrate while trying something new, said Weiner.

For more information and up-to-date operating hours for all locations, go to zelkys.com, call 302-227-1044 or email sarahzelkys@gmail.com.