Dover Mall
An enclosed regional shopping mall on U.S. Route 13 in Dover, Delaware.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Dover Mall is a one-level enclosed regional shopping center in Dover, Delaware, positioned on U.S. Route 13 near Dover Motor Speedway, Bally’s Dover casino resort, Delaware State University, and the Delaware Route 1 interchange. With approximately 927,414 square feet of retail space, it is described as Delaware’s second-largest mall and serves as the only enclosed mall in the Dover area. The property is managed by Simon Property Group, which became its majority owner after acquiring the Mills Corporation’s mall portfolio in 2007. The mall opened on August 4, 1982, after development by Homart Development Company. Its construction followed Sears’s inability to reach an agreement to establish a store at Dover’s earlier Blue Hen Mall, which opened in 1968. Dover Mall initially opened with Boscov’s, Leggett, and Sears as its principal anchors and reportedly cost about $20 million to build. The Boscov’s location was notable as the chain’s first store outside Pennsylvania. Early interior features included raised brick planters, a central bubbling fountain, and walkways crossing the fountain area. A food court also operated from the beginning, with early tenants including 1 Potato 2, The Great Hot Dog Experience, and Sbarro Pizza. The property expanded beyond its original footprint during the 1980s and 1990s. In 1988, Cadillac Fairview developed Dover Commons, a 52,000-square-foot strip center in front of the mall, with Silo and Pier 1 Imports among its early anchors. A 116,480-square-foot east-side addition began construction in 1992 and opened with JCPenney on August 4, 1993. JCPenney relocated from the declining Blue Hen Mall and gained a larger, more upscale store. Dover Mall also received a major renovation in 1993, replacing the original planters and fountains with new black-and-teal finishes, additional skylights, revised seating, and potted palms. At that time, the mall had 95 stores and reported occupancy of 96.5 percent. Tenant changes have repeatedly reshaped the mall. Leggett closed in 1997 after its acquisition by Belk, and Strawbridge’s replaced it later that year. Strawbridge’s subsequently became Macy’s in 2006. The cinema, which opened in 1983 with six screens despite litigation from the neighboring Blue Hen Mall, was expanded to fourteen screens in 1999 and later rebranded as AMC Classic Dover 14 after AMC acquired Carmike Cinemas. Old Navy opened in 2000, and Forever 21 and Dick’s Sporting Goods were among the retailers added in 2013. Sears closed in 2018, while its former anchor space was later occupied by Furniture & More in 2024. Pier 1 Imports closed during the chain’s 2020 bankruptcy and was replaced by Boot Barn in 2022. Ownership also changed during the mall’s history. Cadillac Fairview sold the property to The Mills Corporation in 2003. The Mills considered a major expansion of roughly 500,000 square feet that would have included additional retail and entertainment uses such as an ice rink and skate park, but the proposal did not proceed beyond planning. Simon Property Group acquired the mall with other Mills properties in 2007 and remains its managing majority owner. In the 2020s, the mall adapted some former retail and entertainment space to nontraditional uses. Macy’s converted its store into an online-order fulfillment center in 2020 as e-commerce demand increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; that operation closed at the end of 2023. Walmart established a truck-driving school at the mall in 2022 through an Associate-to-Driver pilot program. The AMC theater permanently closed in March 2024, ending Dover’s last remaining movie-theater operation at the property. Furniture & More opened in the former Sears space in May 2024. The mall continues to combine department stores, specialty retail, sporting goods, furniture, food, services, and community-oriented uses, while retaining a regional role in Kent County.
History
Dover Mall opened on August 4, 1982, as Dover’s second enclosed mall. Homart Development Company built the property after Sears could not secure a location at the older Blue Hen Mall. Original anchor tenants were Boscov’s, Leggett, and Sears, and the project cost approximately $20 million. Boscov’s Dover Mall store was the chain’s first outside Pennsylvania. The original design used raised brick planters, a bubbling central fountain, and a food court with several quick-service restaurants. A six-screen cinema opened in December 1983. Its opening was challenged by the Blue Hen Mall, whose lawsuit cited a lease restriction allegedly limiting new theaters within five miles. In 1988, Cadillac Fairview added Dover Commons, a 52,000-square-foot strip center in front of the mall. Silo and Pier 1 Imports were among its initial anchor tenants. Dover Mall expanded substantially in the early 1990s. Construction of a 116,480-square-foot east-side addition began in September 1992, and JCPenney opened there on August 4, 1993, after moving from Blue Hen Mall. The mall was renovated that year, removing its fountains and raised planters and introducing new tile, benches, skylights, and landscaping. Also in 1993, management prohibited indoor smoking after a shopper survey showed strong support for the policy. Silo closed in 1995 after its parent chain failed, and the space became a Chuck E. Cheese venue. Leggett closed in 1997 following its acquisition by Belk; Strawbridge’s replaced it. Boscov’s and Sears also received improvements during the decade. The cinema operator changed from Fox Theatres to Carmike Cinemas in 1996. In 1999, the theater expanded from six to fourteen screens, adding stadium seating and a food-court entrance. Old Navy opened in 2000 in space previously associated with Lerner, Express, and Structure. The Mills Corporation acquired the mall in 2003 and explored an ambitious expansion featuring new stores and entertainment facilities, including an ice rink and skate park, but the proposal did not advance. After Federated Department Stores acquired May Department Stores, Strawbridge’s became Macy’s in September 2006. Simon Property Group acquired Dover Mall with the Mills portfolio in April 2007 and became the property’s managing majority owner. JCPenney completed a major interior renovation in 2009. New retailers added in the following decade included Forever 21 and Dick’s Sporting Goods, with Dick’s opening a roughly 53,000-square-foot store in 2013. The cinema became AMC Classic Dover 14 in 2017 after AMC acquired Carmike. Sears announced its Dover closure in 2018 as part of a broader national reduction, and the store and auto center closed that year. A children’s play area was added to the former Sears court in 2019. Pier 1 Imports closed in early 2020 during the chain’s bankruptcy and was later replaced by Boot Barn. Macy’s converted its anchor into an e-commerce fulfillment center in late 2020, but the facility closed at the end of 2023. Walmart opened a truck-driving school at the mall in 2022 through a pilot program for employees seeking commercial-driver qualifications. AMC Classic Dover 14 closed permanently in March 2024, leaving the mall without a cinema and Dover without its last remaining movie theater at the site. Furniture & More opened in the former Sears location in May 2024. The mall remains an active regional retail property with department stores, specialty shops, sporting-goods retail, furniture, food, and service-oriented uses.
- 2024
Cinema closes and Furniture & More arrives
[1]AMC Classic Dover 14 closed in March, while Furniture & More opened in the former Sears space in May.
- 2022
Walmart truck-driving school opens
[1]Walmart established a pilot commercial-driver training program at the mall.
- 2020
Macy’s fulfillment center conversion
[1]Macy’s repurposed its store for online-order fulfillment.
- 2018
Sears closes
[1]The Sears store closed in August, followed by the auto center later in the year.
- 2013
Dick’s Sporting Goods opens
[1]A roughly 53,183-square-foot Dick’s Sporting Goods store opened on November 10.
- 2007
Simon Property Group acquires the mall
[1]Simon acquired Dover Mall as part of its purchase of the Mills portfolio.
- 2003
The Mills Corporation takes ownership
[1]The Mills Corporation acquired the property and studied a major expansion that was not built.
- 1999
Cinema expands to fourteen screens
[1]The theater added eight auditoriums, stadium seating, and a new food-court entrance.
- 1993
JCPenney addition and mall renovation
[1]A new JCPenney opened in an east-side addition, while the main mall received a substantial interior renovation.
- 1988
Dover Commons is added
[1]Cadillac Fairview developed a 52,000-square-foot strip center in front of the mall.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping mall serving Dover and Kent County, with a tenant mix spanning department stores, apparel, sporting goods, furniture, food, and services.
Department store · 1982
Boscov’s
Boscov’s is one of Dover Mall’s original anchor tenants and remains a principal department store at the property. Its Dover location was the first Boscov’s store outside Pennsylvania, giving the mall an important role in the chain’s geographic expansion.
Department store · 1993
JCPenney
JCPenney opened at Dover Mall on August 4, 1993, after relocating from Blue Hen Mall. The store occupied a new east-side addition and was larger than the former Dover location. It later received a comprehensive interior renovation.
Sporting goods · 2013
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods added a large sporting-goods anchor to the mall’s tenant mix. The approximately 53,183-square-foot store opened in November 2013 and sells athletic equipment, footwear, apparel, and related outdoor products.
Furniture and home furnishings · 2024
Furniture & More
Furniture & More opened in May 2024 in the former Sears anchor space. Its arrival converted a large vacant department-store location into a home-furnishings retail use.
Cinema · 1983
AMC Classic Dover 14
The mall’s cinema began as a six-screen Fox Theatres operation in 1983, expanded to fourteen screens in 1999, and was later branded AMC Classic Dover 14. It permanently closed in March 2024.
Brand decisions
2022
Walmart Associate-to-Driver pilotOtherBackground
Walmart sought to create a pathway for employees at its stores and distribution centers to qualify as commercial drivers.
Action taken
Walmart opened a truck-driving school at the mall offering a twelve-week course leading to commercial-driver licensing.
Aftermath
Graduates were intended to become full-time salaried Walmart drivers.
2020
Macy’s fulfillment-center conversionStrategyBackground
Online shopping accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the need for regional e-commerce logistics capacity.
Action taken
Macy’s converted its Dover Mall department-store space into an online-order fulfillment center.
Aftermath
The fulfillment center closed at the end of 2023, leaving the former Macy’s anchor vacant.
2003
Proposed large-scale expansionStrategyBackground
After acquiring the mall, The Mills Corporation sought to increase the property’s retail and entertainment offer.
Action taken
The company considered approximately 500,000 square feet of new stores and entertainment venues, including an ice rink and skate park.
Aftermath
The proposal remained at the planning stage and was never carried out.
1993
Indoor smoking prohibitionStrategyBackground
A shopper survey found strong support for prohibiting smoking inside the mall.
Action taken
Dover Mall banned indoor smoking, becoming the second shopping mall in Delaware to adopt such a policy.
Sources2 sources
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