Business & Tech
Retailers React to Dover Mall Reconstruction
Former tenants Wolfie's, Party Fair weigh in on plans, as Bradlees demolished
Whether you look at it as valuable real estate or just another rundown shopping center, you probably have an opinion about Dover Mall. Located at the corner of Routes 166 and 37, it was once home to a Bradlees department store, a liquor shop, Halloween Headquarters and Wolfie’s Restaurant, among many other businesses throughout the years.
But as crews work to , the local retailers once housed in Dover Mall praised the town for finally cleaning up the “eyesore.”
“This is long overdue,” said Steve Gioia, owner-operator of Halloween Headquarters, which became Party Fair, and was located at Dover Mall for 18 years. “The redevelopment should have happened many years ago, but it didn’t because of the town’s red tape.”
Siblings Stuart Wolf and Susan Palumbo are the owner-operators of Wolfie's Restaurant, located on Route 37 East, in Toms River. In 1978, Wolfie’s was stationed at the end of the center portion of Dover Mall commonly known as , but “we kept getting robbed, and there weren’t any customers other than the people we drew,” Wolf said.
It’s been more than a decade since Bradlees shut its doors at Dover Mall — and went out of business — but the building remained vacant until late Wednesday, when demolition crews worked to tear down the long-standing building.
Dover Mall “was wonderful while Bradlees was there, but once they left, it was time to move on,” Wolf said. In 2000, the restaurant left Dover Mall for its current location on Route 37.
Demolition of Bradlees was the first step in a , which was approved by the township’s planning board Wednesday night, Toms River Patch previously reported. While Staples is the only store that will carry over after redevelopment, the store plans to upgrade to a newer building.
Jason’s Furniture, a chain with three locations in New Jersey — one of which is currently at Dover Mall — is closing down, according to its store manager, Butch Gorman.
Plans for a Super ShopRite are still under consideration by the township’s planning board, but a Spirits Unlimited has already shown some interest.
Party Fair has been at its new location, which is across the street from Dover Mall, for 10 years now. “I don’t know that we would consider moving back,” Gioia said. “All of the tenants are leaving except Staples,” but once the ShopRite moves in and the Staples is redone, Gioia said, “it will be incredible for the area.”
“It’s one of the nicest specific locations in Toms River,” Wolf said. “You come off the [Garden State] Parkway and you’re right there. It’s a great location. Once the ShopRite and Staples are set, the new shopping center will be wonderful.”
Staples will remain open throughout the redevelopment process. “We are looking forward to remaining at this mall,” said company spokeswoman Carrie McElwee. While the construction process has just started at the site, she said Staples cannot make predictions or speculate on sales or traffic in the store.
