Former Royal Treat building in Rehoboth Beach demolished
The demolition of the former Royal Treat building on Wilmington Avenue in Rehoboth Beach is nearing completion. The city issued a demolition permit in October, and removal of the building began about two weeks ago.
The ocean block, mixed-use structure was the four-decade home of ice cream parlor Royal Treat, which was operated by the Fornwalt family. Prior to that, the building was home to a few different businesses offering room and board – Reverend Morgan’s boarding house, Thawley’s Hotel and the Royalton Hotel.
The Fasnacht family, owners of Funland, own the property. Mark Henschke, a grandson of Funland founders Jean and Al Fasnacht, was onsite checking out the progress Jan. 22. He said there are thoughts about what the family is going to do with the property, but at this point, it would be premature to discuss them.
John Macklin & Son is the company doing the demolition work. The Lincoln-area company has been in business since 1976 and has done work all over the place, including the removal of the former Bests’ Ace Hardware at Five Points. The company’s founder and namesake died a little more than two years ago, but wife Janet Macklin and son John Macklin Jr. have continued on – Janet does the estimates; John does the excavator work.
“We couldn’t do it without each other,” said Janet.
