Dover Mall - History

History

Built in 1982, the Dover Mall was the second climate-controlled enclosed mall in Dover, Delaware, following the Blue Hen Mall (now the Blue Hen Corporate Center) a few miles south on the former U.S. Route 113 (now simply known as Bay Road). The Dover Mall was built as a second mall for the Dover area for Sears and other department stores after Sears was unable to come to an agreement to build a store at the Blue Hen Mall. The opening of the Dover Mall led to the subsequent decline of the Blue Hen Mall. The mall was originally anchored by Boscov's, Leggett (later Strawbridge's; now Macy's), and Sears.

The mall was renovated in 1992. JC Penney became the mall's fourth department store when it opened in August 1993. Later that year, the Dover Mall became the first shopping mall in the state to ban smoking.

Leggett closed its store at the mall on March 15, 1997. It was replaced by Strawbridge's, which opened on November 21, 1997. During the same time period, Boscov's underwent a substantial renovation and expansion, and Sears completed an interior renovation.

In 1999, Carmike Cinemas expanded from six screens to fourteen, and the mall food court was enlarged and renovated.

The Mills Corporation acquired the mall in 2003 from Cadillac Fairview. At the time of the purchase, the Mills Corporation announced a preliminary proposal to add approximately 500,000 sq ft (46,000 m2). of new stores and entertainment venues.

The mall's Strawbridge's store was converted to Macy's on September 9, 2006.

On April 2007, the Simon Property Group acquired the mall along with the other Mills Corp. malls. It is Simon's only Delaware property and at least the third owner since 2000.