Historic Nu-Way Weiner restaurant demolished

Nu-Way Weiners has been a landmark in the city for nearly 100 years.

“Memories, knowing that there will be memories from here on out,” says James Cacavias, the president and co-owner of Nu-Way Weiners Inc.

He watched his family’s restaurant being demolished. Cacavias is among three generations have served hotdogs at the Cotton Avenue restaurant, even through the great depression.

“My grandfather was an owner in the 1920’s,” added Cacavias. “Dad was an owner for 40 years, and now I’ve been an owner for 16 years.”

Flames ripped through the historic building in March. Cacavias says it was declared a total loss.

“We’ve been around for 99 and a half years and this is the last thing we could’ve imagined, celebrating our 100th year anniversary to look at the demolition of where it all started.”

“The hub mother store if you will everybody looked to Cotton Avenue, our offices was always here so this was always like the center of Nu-Way,” says Nu-way co-owner Spyros Dermatas.

The owner of the demolition company, Casteel Construction, is also a loyal Nu-Way customer.

“Once you start eating Nu-Way it’s something you continue to do all your life,” says Mike Casteel. “I’ve been eating them all my life, sometimes two or three times a week.”

Casteel says his company blocked off the area in order to make sure they would not damage the attorney’s office next door.

“Now we need to look and see what will serve Nu-Way and the community well for the next 100 years, says Cacavias.

Nu-Way on Cotton Avenue will reopen next year, but until then you’ll have to get the Nu Way Weiners at their eight other locations.

Nu-Way owners say when they rebuild, they will add three times the space of the old restaurant. They’re looking into making it a two or three story building, and adding more tables and booths.