Popular Dewey restaurant Nalu expanding to Rehoboth Beach

It may only be one beach town over, but Nalu owner Regan Derrickson says his upcoming Rehoboth Beach restaurant will have "its own identity" from the original, Hawaiian-themed location in Dewey Beach. 

Derrickson has already begun construction on 41 Rehoboth Ave., where the old Wilmington University location used to be. He called the property purchase a "rare opportunity" and was issued a demolition permit earlier this year to clear out the space.

On Oct. 5, he was issued a building permit and has since begun construction. Derrickson's compliance hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19, and he says his plan is within the code.

The anticipated opening date for Nalu Rehoboth is April 2019. 

The ocean block location with a full basement "was a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase," he said in a message. "It is an unusual advantage to have two restaurant locations so close to each other but in two completely different markets."

Derrickson has been working diligently to raise the food standards at his original location to both stay ahead of what customers are starting to expect in Dewey, and to prepare for a Rehoboth clientele, where he says the demand is already there. 

That can be seen in his thoughtful and on-trend menu, comprised of poke bowls (a traditional native Hawaiian dish of raw fish), housemade kimchi and notes of fusion, from a spam BLT to kona braised short rib tacos.

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