Grotto Pizza to renovate Grand Slam in Lewes

Since 1986, Grotto Pizza’s Grand Slam restaurant has greeted southbound visitors to the beach with its Route 1 location just south of the Five Points intersection near Lewes.

This fall, the 10,500-square-foot landmark is getting a facelift.

“We will remain operational throughout the renovation,” said Jeff Gosnear, vice president of Grotto Pizza, which was founded in 1960 in downtown Rehoboth Beach. “We are making improvements in stages.”

The Grand Slam location has about 60 full- and part-time employees.

Renovations will focus on the dining rooms and bar. The restaurant will also receive new bathrooms and an updated exterior façade with Grotto’s signature tower. Also planned are a new patio, a fire pit and an enhanced takeout area.

“Since the pandemic, customers have shown a preference for dining outside. Takeout has also increased,” said Gosnear.

The architect is Davis, Bowen & Friedel of Milford, and the contractor is Brendan W. Warfel.

Work is scheduled for completion this year.

While all Grotto’s sports-oriented bar areas are known as Grand Slam, the Lewes site is the only one that bears the title in its name.

Grotto Pizza currently has 23 locations in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. For more, go to grottopizza.com.