The heart of Dewey Beach has lost a founding pulse. Edward “Chicken Ed” Riggin, a true local legend, has passed away at the age of 92. His story is woven into the very fabric of the town, beginning before Dewey was officially incorporated.
Ed opened Ed’s Bar-B-Q Chicken on the corner of Highway 1 and Swedes Street, ocean side, serving hungry beachgoers from a simple shack. With a larger-than-life personality to match his ambitions, he grew the spot into the beloved institution Ed’s Chicken and Crabs. For 38 summers, the aroma of his famous fare was a quintessential Dewey experience, and “Chicken Ed” himself was a commanding, beloved presence behind the counter.
Working at Ed’s became a rite of passage for generations of local teens, a summer job that came with lessons in hard work, community, and Ed’s unique brand of charm. The business was more than a restaurant; it was a landmark.
Tragically, its physical presence came to a sudden, fiery end in August 2016 when a drunk driver lost control and destroyed the iconic shack. While the building was gone, Ed’s legacy and the memories of countless visitors and employees remained untouchable.
Ed Riggin’s passing marks the end of an era. He embodied the spirit of old Dewey—entrepreneurial, colorful, and deeply connected to the community he helped build. The stories of Chicken Ed, his legendary crabs, and his enduring shack will be told for generations. He will be profoundly missed, but his legend is permanently etched in the salt air and sand of the beach he called home.
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