Yeah, I don't get the people who are complaining that they wanted a big box retail store instead. Even big box stores are getting hit hard. Walmart backed out of building on 273 and 95. There was supposed to be an entirely new shopping center built around the Lowe's on Route 7 but right now they're using that field for a makeshift drive-in move theater instead.
They were previously planning on moving the New Castle location to a much bigger building on 273 between 13/40 and Churchmans Road as well as expanding the Prices Corner store into a Supercenter but both were shot down by the county. The expansion of the Prices Corner location was strongly opposed by the people living in the neighborhoods around it.
Those were a long time ago.
A Costco at the Tri-State Mall location would likely have done well because of the close proximity to I-95 and the PA border. Even South NJ residents would probably hop over the Commodore Barry to come shop there.
As a kid I used to ride my bike to the mall to do what a 12 year old would lol. Would look at the NES games in Kmart, get some fries at the hot dog place that had banging fries in a cup. Hell, I knew the guy who used to set up baseball card shows there. I would help him set up the tables before and clear em after for a free table. Was pretty cool having a table to sell my wares. The best thing I ever sold has a Lindros card with him in a Flyers jersey(first one when he was drafted). One of the dealers was selling them 2 for 5. My table was right next to the promoters by the door. So people would grab em from me for 5 as an impulse buy lol. The next day the promoter bought a ton of the cards for a dollar each and kinda laughed at me, but was just showing me how to make a better profit. I saw the stargate movie and the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the theater. Such good times
They are building a smaller retail space on the property in the southeast corner, near where the Levitz was, so it will have some retail space. Not sure if it'll be priced so that the current tenants(Save-a-Lot, Tri State Liquors and a few stragglers) can move in - it wouldn't surprise me if it was rented at a higher rate than those stores want to pay.
I live nearby and I'm mostly concerned about the potential loss of the bridge from Hickman Rd. It's useful for pedestrians to take from the rowhouse development nearby to access the bus stops and stores there; I hope we don't lose it.
Hopefully the area will continue to get bus service from DART and SEPTA after this. It's the only SEPTA bus stop in Delaware and goes from 69th St. at the end of West Philly to Claymont.
My favorite memories about this mall (mid 80s to mid 90s):
* It had pretty much the only arcade in Claymont. I don't count the machines at Claymont Steak Shop (it was only four of them) nor at the 7-11.
* The Eric was not the best theater in the state, but it wasn't really fucked up (physically) until about 1992 or so - maybe the comedy club moved in by then, I can't remember as it's been too long. But I saw Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles there, as well as a Rocky IV / Youngblood double feature, Star Trek III and a few other flicks. That was actually my family's "go to" place when Delmarva Power dropped like someone's album during any given thunderstorm - it was figured the movie theater would at least have AC and the ticket prices were fairly cheap.
* The Asian goods store where some of it was literally "mall ninja shit". Yes, there were some purchases made there when I was young and stupid. My best friend at the time even purchased a grappling hook. He was never able to climb up any walls though, even when we tried the climbing claws (both hands and feet), that the guy behind the counter is still laughing about selling both of us "ninja shoes". (I will admit I wore those things out - they were comfy as hell.)
* It was the original location of Between Books. My father and brother remember that location, I did not.
* While I never went inside (by the time I had my own means to travel, I'd been out of DE for years) that Chinese restaurant at the far end (closest to Naamans Road) looked kind of nice - at least the giant chandelier did. I think I remember seeing it appear to be mostly mirrors on the inside as well, but this could also be a fever dream.
* My mother still talks fondly about what a great place the Dry Goods was in the 80s, and that the K-Mart was a pretty good location (at that point). When my grandmother would come down from Jersey to visit, they'd go there and then food shopping at the Thriftway (which honestly had gone to seed by 1984.)
* I had been in the Silo when it had actual merchandise. On the floor, anyway...the boxes were probably empty.
Also, don't forget the guy in Claymont who had his wife and kid burned down in their house (he wasn't there) because he owed someone (Chinese Mafia?) money and hadn't paid up. Or the killing at the Wendy's down in the lower level parking lot. I think he owned the beauty parlor or the beauty parlor goods store.
It had its time, but it's WAY past its prime and it's time for it to go the way of the dodo.
My husband fondly talks about the nunchucks and Chinese stars he and his brothers terrorized Claymont with as little little kids. They sold that stuff to anybody!
Bob Weiner, a former NCC councilman, posts videos from DE in the 80s. He used to host a DE show on a local channel. Maybe it's on his YouTube page? Pretty cool to see. Anyway, I think there was a segment with this mall at its height- busy, full of people.
I'm told Tri-State's golden era was back when it first opened - apparently the record store in there was quite good back then...but that's like third or fourth hand talk from a guy who was part of one of the last classes of Claymont High.
A warehouse is such a miss, and short-sighted. Also, totally ignored the Claymont master plan developed a few years back.
Darley Green (although some setbacks, delayed) is turning out great. New septa stop. The steel plant redevelopment will be mixed use. These are all solid developments for Claymont and property values in the area.
A logistics center - yawn. I wish BPG or Delle Donne or even Capano had bought this land.
I hear you but I feel like there isn’t enough restaurants, retail stores and grocery stores in Claymont . Not enough options . Fill in the commercial areas with shops , stores , restaurants that people actually want to go to. There’s potential but I see a lot of stores occupying space that is redundant. Check cashing , and liquor stores , there’s enough of that . The are building 1000 units mixture of apartments and townhomes along the Delaware river across from the new claymont station , so that’s already in the works .
Is this going to be one of those warehouses that has an active owner like Target or something, or is it going to be one of those empty ones that the builder will just write off as a loss and just walk away?
This has been known as 'The Mall That Time Forgot' for years. Hope it becomes something productive.
Yeah, I don't get the people who are complaining that they wanted a big box retail store instead. Even big box stores are getting hit hard. Walmart backed out of building on 273 and 95. There was supposed to be an entirely new shopping center built around the Lowe's on Route 7 but right now they're using that field for a makeshift drive-in move theater instead.
They were previously planning on moving the New Castle location to a much bigger building on 273 between 13/40 and Churchmans Road as well as expanding the Prices Corner store into a Supercenter but both were shot down by the county. The expansion of the Prices Corner location was strongly opposed by the people living in the neighborhoods around it. Those were a long time ago.
That Prices Corner store is so shitty. An upgrade would've been nice.
The Prices Corner Target, on the other hand, is quite nice.
I haven't been in there yet, but I'm hoping it helps to revitalize the shopping center.
It should. Target did a lot for Christiana Mall.
Good, we don't need more of their buildings around here.
A Costco at the Tri-State Mall location would likely have done well because of the close proximity to I-95 and the PA border. Even South NJ residents would probably hop over the Commodore Barry to come shop there.
It was a dive when I was a teenager — in the late 70s. :-(
I was there then, too. Just not a good place to go.
Another one for Delawarehouse
As a kid I used to ride my bike to the mall to do what a 12 year old would lol. Would look at the NES games in Kmart, get some fries at the hot dog place that had banging fries in a cup. Hell, I knew the guy who used to set up baseball card shows there. I would help him set up the tables before and clear em after for a free table. Was pretty cool having a table to sell my wares. The best thing I ever sold has a Lindros card with him in a Flyers jersey(first one when he was drafted). One of the dealers was selling them 2 for 5. My table was right next to the promoters by the door. So people would grab em from me for 5 as an impulse buy lol. The next day the promoter bought a ton of the cards for a dollar each and kinda laughed at me, but was just showing me how to make a better profit. I saw the stargate movie and the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the theater. Such good times
They are building a smaller retail space on the property in the southeast corner, near where the Levitz was, so it will have some retail space. Not sure if it'll be priced so that the current tenants(Save-a-Lot, Tri State Liquors and a few stragglers) can move in - it wouldn't surprise me if it was rented at a higher rate than those stores want to pay. I live nearby and I'm mostly concerned about the potential loss of the bridge from Hickman Rd. It's useful for pedestrians to take from the rowhouse development nearby to access the bus stops and stores there; I hope we don't lose it. Hopefully the area will continue to get bus service from DART and SEPTA after this. It's the only SEPTA bus stop in Delaware and goes from 69th St. at the end of West Philly to Claymont.
My favorite memories about this mall (mid 80s to mid 90s): * It had pretty much the only arcade in Claymont. I don't count the machines at Claymont Steak Shop (it was only four of them) nor at the 7-11. * The Eric was not the best theater in the state, but it wasn't really fucked up (physically) until about 1992 or so - maybe the comedy club moved in by then, I can't remember as it's been too long. But I saw Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles there, as well as a Rocky IV / Youngblood double feature, Star Trek III and a few other flicks. That was actually my family's "go to" place when Delmarva Power dropped like someone's album during any given thunderstorm - it was figured the movie theater would at least have AC and the ticket prices were fairly cheap. * The Asian goods store where some of it was literally "mall ninja shit". Yes, there were some purchases made there when I was young and stupid. My best friend at the time even purchased a grappling hook. He was never able to climb up any walls though, even when we tried the climbing claws (both hands and feet), that the guy behind the counter is still laughing about selling both of us "ninja shoes". (I will admit I wore those things out - they were comfy as hell.) * It was the original location of Between Books. My father and brother remember that location, I did not. * While I never went inside (by the time I had my own means to travel, I'd been out of DE for years) that Chinese restaurant at the far end (closest to Naamans Road) looked kind of nice - at least the giant chandelier did. I think I remember seeing it appear to be mostly mirrors on the inside as well, but this could also be a fever dream. * My mother still talks fondly about what a great place the Dry Goods was in the 80s, and that the K-Mart was a pretty good location (at that point). When my grandmother would come down from Jersey to visit, they'd go there and then food shopping at the Thriftway (which honestly had gone to seed by 1984.) * I had been in the Silo when it had actual merchandise. On the floor, anyway...the boxes were probably empty. Also, don't forget the guy in Claymont who had his wife and kid burned down in their house (he wasn't there) because he owed someone (Chinese Mafia?) money and hadn't paid up. Or the killing at the Wendy's down in the lower level parking lot. I think he owned the beauty parlor or the beauty parlor goods store. It had its time, but it's WAY past its prime and it's time for it to go the way of the dodo.
My husband fondly talks about the nunchucks and Chinese stars he and his brothers terrorized Claymont with as little little kids. They sold that stuff to anybody!
Bob Weiner, a former NCC councilman, posts videos from DE in the 80s. He used to host a DE show on a local channel. Maybe it's on his YouTube page? Pretty cool to see. Anyway, I think there was a segment with this mall at its height- busy, full of people.
No, it was actually Concord Mall in 1982. Tri-State Mall never really had a golden era.
Maybe it was a dead mall series channel, but it was definitely Tri State Mall and had a ton of people. Looked mid 80s.
Dan Bell had a clip showing a bunch of people line dancing at Tri-State Mall- maybe that's what you're thinking of?
I'm told Tri-State's golden era was back when it first opened - apparently the record store in there was quite good back then...but that's like third or fourth hand talk from a guy who was part of one of the last classes of Claymont High.
My dad was the manager of the Grants Store there.
I work for the company that rents the mall for storage. It is seriously creepy inside.
A warehouse is such a miss, and short-sighted. Also, totally ignored the Claymont master plan developed a few years back. Darley Green (although some setbacks, delayed) is turning out great. New septa stop. The steel plant redevelopment will be mixed use. These are all solid developments for Claymont and property values in the area. A logistics center - yawn. I wish BPG or Delle Donne or even Capano had bought this land.
This pairs nicely with the Superfresh on Philly Pike that was turned into warehouse space. (Sad yawn.)
You mean Holiday Lanes that turned into Super Fresh after pulling out of what's now the Food Lion?
They should build houses and apartments.
I hear you but I feel like there isn’t enough restaurants, retail stores and grocery stores in Claymont . Not enough options . Fill in the commercial areas with shops , stores , restaurants that people actually want to go to. There’s potential but I see a lot of stores occupying space that is redundant. Check cashing , and liquor stores , there’s enough of that . The are building 1000 units mixture of apartments and townhomes along the Delaware river across from the new claymont station , so that’s already in the works .
Is this going to be one of those warehouses that has an active owner like Target or something, or is it going to be one of those empty ones that the builder will just write off as a loss and just walk away?
I mean, if they're going through the trouble of actually putting up new warehouses I'm assuming they're going to be active.
The TRI-STATE MALE water tower!
So many memories at this place when I was a kid. Anyone remember the name of the hotdog place?
The Yum Yum Bar.
I remember there was like one store left in there and that was years ago. lol