Dover Mall

Unilocal asks, «What keeps you coming back» (to the Dover Mall). My answer…“My wife… my wife drags me with her to the Dover Mall”. There are actually stores that I like such as Sears and Bosco’s and that place that sells sporting goods, but I’m not much of a mall-​man. The place is clean and safe, and well maintained, and my wife likes it. That pretty much settles it for me. In fact, I’m going over there tomorrow with her to return something. Oh joy.

Just a very basic shopping venue but it has improved over the years. Macy’s is nice. I took advantage of the Black Friday sales. The Sephora in jcpenney is also new for me since it wasn’t here when I was a kid. Dover is actually becoming more suburbs than rural.

I haven been here in years, maybe 10. Even then the mall felt like it was in decline. It was clean, and the sales people were super friendly, but the place seems a little depressing. Most of the stores here you can find in anywhere in the US. I didn’t see any store here that made this mall seem special. It’s pretty small, but seems to service the needs of the area. I live about 60 miles away so I don’t think I’ll returning here anytime soon.

This is the cloest mall to my in laws, so it’s where we go. It’s not too big, but they have what you need for the most part. Some of the people walking around the mall are a bit questionable, but most of the employees of the mall are decent. The food court is weird. A few restaurants, but all kind of not-​so-​great selections. Nothing healthy at all. I didn’t have the same horrible experience here, but I also come mid-​week when I do go. I’m sure weekends are shady.

Dover mall isn’t the worst mall I’ve been to but it was pretty corny. The mall wasn’t too far from the hotel and when we looked it up, they had Forever 21 so we figured it was worth checking out.
There’s not really a good, vast selection of stores here and it was surprising that even stores that I usually shop in (Forever 21, Charlotte Russe) had very limited items to my liking. The items were very plain, dull, and boring. I felt like I was searching for days. It seemed like they just don’t get many trendy items shipped to that mall.
For the items I did find, it felt good to shop tax free.

The Dover mall is the only one reasonably close to everything. That being said, it is THE worst. It is really ghetto. I’ve seen cops arrest people in and outside of the mall on more than one occasion and have even witnessed a shoplifter running out of the mall into a getaway car, stolen merchandise in hand. The theatre is gross and people who hang out here are so sketchy. Even if I need to come here, I will put it off until I can go to the Christiana Mall. The stores are awful, there are maybe a few good ones like Victoria’s Secret, but for the most part there is no where even desirable to shop for me. They added a Dick’s, which is nice, but only if you don’t venture into the actual mall. My idea of hell would be working in this mall because I get depressed every time I take a step in here. If you absolutely have to go somewhere in the mall and you know you’ll be in and out– go for it. Otherwise, skip it because it’s not worth it– especially if you’re looking for a nice day of shopping. And if you need to come here, come here in the morning because it gets worse as the day goes on. And skip the theatre all together because it’s not worth whatever movie you want to see.

It’s a mall, my first impressions is that it’s old and run downed. They have a movie theater but there’s nothing exciting about it. The food court has the essentials; Chinese, burgers, etc. it’s the only mall around so good luck.

This mall is small and has looked the same forever. There are always rumors they are going to update or build on, or build in the area behind the mall. But year after year it stays the same minus the few stores that can no longer afford the rent.
What’s here? Boscovs, jcp, verizon, claires, hair places, Macy’s, mail place, embroidery shop, old navy, dicks, payless, sears, dairy queen, children’s place, bath and body works, lane Bryant, shoe show, and several jewelry stores. Nothing exciting.

I remember as a child when the Dover Mall, nicknamed the «New Mall,» opened its doors in 1982. Before that time, Dover’s flagship mall was the Blue Hen located just a couple miles south. Once the Dover Mall was complete it was only a matter of a couple of years, before the management of the Blue Hen Mall came to grips that it was time to give up the crown.
From the Mid 80s up into the mid to late 90s the Dover Mall was keeping a solid pace and shopping fan base. During the mid 80s to early 90s this mall rocked! To bad the management doesn’t realize it is now 2012, and 80s and 90s are a thing of the past!
FAST FORWARD to today.
All I can say is WOW… Now, I wouldn’t go as far as to say the Dover Mall is dead, but it is definitely on life support. Not to sound mean, but maybe they should figure out more creative reinventing. In this case, I think that would be too much like right. It seems they prefer to spend valuable dollars on providing out of shape mall security guards with Segways! Yes, «Paul Mart The Mall Cop» Segways in a mall in which it takes about four minutes for the average person to walk from end to end.
Most of the stores are more of what you’d find in your local Flea Market, than that of a structured shopping mall.
I don’t know. Maybe the Dover mall is a reflection of the town itself. From late childhood to High School graduation, GO RIDERS, Dover was my hometown. When I return to visit friends and family that still live there, I almost get depressed at how the town has slowed to the pace of an old turtle.
It’s going to take an innovative, creative savior source to save this mall. If that doesn’t happen, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dover Mall joins America’s closed malls list.
–Dj

Dover Mall is clearly aspiring to join the Blue Hen Mall on Labelscar.com’s list of defunct malls. Numerous small malls around the state have closed since the late 1980s — Dover is just a bit late to the party, as its décor, parking lot, and store selection clearly haven’t been updated since the 1980s. Several stores have either already closed or are closing soon — the Coffee Beanery and Chick-​Fil-​A, to name but two of them. It doesn’t appear as if retailers are lining up to replace them, either. One storefront is occupied by a fly-​by-​night rug and jersey dealer who hasn’t even invested in shelving or a sign for the store. This particular retailer would be right at home at the New Castle Farmer’s Market, which is about the quality level the Dover Mall will be hitting in a few short years. Odd, though, because the New Castle Farmer’s market is packed — but this place is desolate, especially on weeknights.

Awful! How does this mall stay afloat? It doesn’t. It is clearly failing.
A half-​empty food court. So bad — we could NOT eat here.
I am saddened for the people who live here. This mall needs serious, serious help — the economy is killing it.