SoDel Concepts in talks to acquire Rehoboth Beach's Crust & Craft pizzeria

A Rehoboth Beach-based hospitality group is in talks to purchase the Crust & Craft pizza restaurant off Del. 1.

SoDel Concepts, which owns such popular Sussex County eateries as Bluecoast and Matt's Fish Camp, confirmed Tuesday to The News Journal that it is hoping to purchase the Rehoboth gourmet eatery owned by Chef Brenton Wallace.

"We are working out details on the purchase of Crust & Craft," said Nelia Dolan, who is in charge of marketing for SoDel Concepts. She said the deal could be completed at the end of the week.

"If all goes well we are hoping to settle end of February, early March," Dolan said.

Wallace, owner of the pizzeria that celebrated its third anniversary this past October, declined comment on Tuesday and referred questions to SoDel Concepts.

Craft & Crust is located in the Midway Galleria at 18701 Coastal Highway (Del. 1). 

Wallace specializes in 12-inch Neapolitan-style pizzas baked in a red-tiled Marana Forni wood-fired oven that can reach 900 degrees.

The dough is handmade. It's allowed to rest and age for two days before it's used in pies. Pizzas bake fast — usually in about 3 minutes — because of the high temperature of the oven. The restaurant also has homemade pasta and an extensive craft beer and cocktail list.

Crust & Craft is open year-round, and parking is free. Wallace, a veteran of Philadelphia restaurants, had once been a sous chef at chef Georges Perrier's now-closed Brasserie Perrier. 

Before opening Crust & Craft, he had previously worked at Nage and Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats. 

SoDel businesses include 10 restaurants: Fish On and Matt's Fish Camp in Lewes; Bluecoast Seafood Grill and Raw Bar Rehoboth and Lupo Italian Kitchen in Rehoboth Beach; Matt’s Fish Camp and Bluecoast Seafood Grill and Raw Bar in Bethany Beach; NorthEast Seafood Kitchen in Ocean View; and Catch 54 and Papa Grande’s Coastal Taqueria in Fenwick Island.

They also have a wedding, events and restaurant venue, The Clubhouse at Baywood; a catering company, Plate Catering; and Matt’s Homemade Soda Co.

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Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico