What's new in Delaware this fall?
Delaware's restaurant and business scene kept moving through October. Here are the highlights:
- Sussex: Dave's Hot Chicken opened at Tanger Outlets Rehoboth. Ledo Pizza opened on Rehoboth Avenue. A new Wawa opened on Route 24 near Lewes.
- Kent: Downtown Dover's new parking-and-retail Mobility Center is aiming to open in December. A $226 million clean-hydrogen plant is planned for Dover.
- New Castle: Middletown's dining scene keeps growing, and The Brass Tap has picked Middletown for its first Delaware location.
Below is the county-by-county rundown, plus why it matters if you live here or are thinking about moving.
New Castle County
Lefty's Alley & Eats — Newark (The Grove)
If you haven't been yet, this is the big one for Newark families. Lefty's opened its second Delaware location at The Grove on July 17. It brings 16 bowling lanes, an arcade and a full chef-driven restaurant and bar to the former Kmart building. It's the first bowling alley Newark has had since Brunswick Blue Hen Lanes closed in 2014. The Picklr, Raising Cane's, Crunch Fitness and Wonder are all close by, so The Grove has become a real destination again.
La Pizzeria Metro — Town of Whitehall, Middletown
The Wilmington favorite has opened a second location in the Town of Whitehall. It serves the Neo-Neapolitan pies that made the original popular. For Whitehall residents, it's one more reason the neighborhood feels like a small town of its own.
Casa 19 — St. Anne's Club, Middletown
Hope Lopez of the Blue Mezcal Group, which also runs Blue Mezcal and Jackson House, has taken over the restaurant at St. Anne's Club golf course and renamed it Casa 19.
Coming soon: The Brass Tap — Bayberry Town Center, Middletown
The Brass Tap, a craft-beer tavern chain with more than 50 locations, announced on October 30 that it signed a franchise deal for its first Delaware restaurant at Bayberry Town Center. The lease is still being negotiated, so there's no opening date yet.
Why it matters: Middletown keeps adding the kind of places people look for before they move: casual sit-down dining, family entertainment and a reason to stay local on a Friday night. That is a big part of why southern New Castle County stays in demand. → See our Middletown community guide and Newark community guide.
Kent County
Downtown Dover Mobility Center — target opening December 2026
The new garage on Forest Street is more than parking. It has 328 spaces, covered bike and scooter parking, public restrooms and ground-floor space for three businesses. The largest tenant will be an E-ZPass call center. The Downtown Dover Partnership's target completion date is December 2026.
"The Old Post" — 55 Loockerman Street
Dover's old post office, empty since 2021, is being turned into apartments and commercial space. Renovations started in May.
Aternium's clean-hydrogen plant — Garrison Oak Technical Park
Wilmington-based Aternium announced in August that it chose Dover's Garrison Oak Technical Park for a $226 million clean hydrogen and heavy water plant. The company expects about 50 permanent jobs paying in the "low six figures."
Oishii Sushi Hibachi & Bar — Camden
Camden now has its own sushi and hibachi spot at 386 Walmart Drive, with hand-made rolls, nigiri and hibachi.
Mark your calendar: Ecosave 400 — Dover Motor Speedway
Dover Motor Speedway announced that its 2027 NASCAR Cup Series race will be the Ecosave 400 on Sunday, May 16, 2027. It's a return to a 400-mile race.
Why it matters: Downtown Dover is getting its biggest round of investment in years: parking, new housing and new tenants on Loockerman Street. Add a large employer coming to Garrison Oak, and Kent County's draw grows beyond what buyers already like about it: more house for the money. → Compare the two counties in New Castle County vs. Kent County, or browse our Dover & Cheswold and Camden & Wyoming guides.
Sussex County
Dave's Hot Chicken — Tanger Outlets Seaside, Rehoboth Beach
After several months of delays, Dave's Hot Chicken opened at 36461 Seaside Outlet Drive, next to Mission BBQ. Tanger Outlets confirmed an October 23 opening date. It's the chain's second Delaware location; the first is in Dover.
Ledo Pizza — 47 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach
The Maryland-born pizza chain opened at the end of September in the former Five Guys space downtown, run by Ocean City-based Trifecta Hospitality.
New Wawa — Route 24 & Mulberry Knoll Road, near Lewes
Wawa cut the ribbon on October 22 at John J. Williams Highway and Mulberry Knoll Road. It's the company's 12th Sussex County store, and Wawa plans five more by the end of 2028.
Coming soon: Once Upon A Child — Lewes
The resale shop for kids' clothes, shoes and toys is being built at 24137 Zinfandel Lane in The Vineyards, a welcome addition for the growing number of young families around Lewes.
Coming soon: Fenwick Island Brewing
Southern Delaware Brewing has started planning its third brewpub, Fenwick Island Brewing, with the Carl M. Freeman Companies.
On the horizon: Ford's Garage — Millsboro
The car-themed burger chain signed a three-restaurant Delaware franchise deal. The first location is planned for Millsboro and expected to open in early 2027.
Why it matters: New year-round businesses like these, and especially family-focused ones, show how much of coastal Sussex is now full-time residents, not just summer visitors. → See our Delaware Beaches and Inland Sussex County guides.
What new businesses mean for your home
New restaurants and shops don't set your home's value. Comparable sales do. But they do shape where buyers want to live, and that affects how many people show up when you list. Places with convenient amenities, a lively downtown and new jobs tend to see steadier buyer demand.
If you've been wondering what your home could sell for in today's market, start with real numbers. Request your free Home Equity Report, or call or text David at (302) 613-4228. You can also read how much it costs to sell a house in Delaware.
Know of a new Delaware business we missed? Send it to wesell@teamsordelet.com and we may include it next time.
Opening dates and details come from local news reports and company announcements as of November 3, 2026, and can change. Check with each business before you go.
About David Sordelet David Sordelet is the Designated Broker and Team Leader of Team Sordelet of Real Broker, LLC. He has more than 20 years of experience and 1,000+ closings, and he serves New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware and Cecil and Kent counties in Maryland. Licensed in Delaware (RB-0031238-DE) and Maryland (5013138-MD).
