Update: Agave still has plans for Rehoboth Beach location

After years of promoting a second location, it appears Agave Tequila Bar and Restaurant is no longer coming to downtown Rehoboth Beach and will move its Rehoboth Beach location to Coastal Highway.

In an email Aug. 31, Mike Firetti, business partner to restaurant founder Chris McKeown, confirmed the restaurant is no longer expanding to a vacant lot at 230 Rehoboth Ave. The lot is located immediately to the west of Summer House restaurant.

McKeown opened Agave in 2008 on Second Street in downtown Lewes. Firetti became a partner in the operation a couple of years ago. He and McKeown announced Agave’s expansion into downtown Rehoboth in August 2018. Getting city approval wasn’t easy, but ultimately they were able to break ground on the proposed 240-seat restaurant in October 2019. At the time, Firetti said the anticipated opening was in late 2020.

A concrete footing and some water infrastructure were installed shortly after the groundbreaking, but the rectangular lot was recently filled in and straw was placed over the ground as if seeded. Gone are the signs announcing Agave’s arrival.

Firetti said he was unable to comment further but would be able to give a complete update on the new Rehoboth Beach location by the end of September and that the decision was not related to COVID-19.

Earlier this year, in January, Agave also announced it was building a third location in Middletown, near Amazon’s distribution center.

Firetti said expansion plans for that location are still underway.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the intention that Agave will still move forward with a restaurant in the Rehoboth Beach area.