A line of people wait to enter the new Ulta Beauty store for its grand opening Friday in Dover Towne Center. (Delaware State News/Dave Chambers)
DOVER — About 80 eager customers patiently lined up outside Ulta Beauty, waiting for the store’s doors to open Friday.
Even though the Dover Towne Center store’s grand opening wasn’t scheduled until 10 a.m., Lindsey Choate and Chanan Behrendt were there at 8:30 a.m.
“We just love makeup,” Ms. Choate said. “We were excited when we heard they were opening up here.”
The chain has a diverse selection of cosmetics and beauty products and on-site salon services.
Chanan Behrendt, left, and Linsdey Choate, both of Dover were the first in line for Friday’s Ulta Beauty grand opening.
The grand opening will end Sunday, with the first 100 guests each day receiving an Ulta Beauty gift valued from $5 to $100.
Camden resident Tracey Thompson, who was a first-time shopper at the store, said she expects to spend a lot of money there moving forward.
“I usually like Sephora, but I heard Ulta has hair products, so I wanted to come and check it out,” Ms. Thompson said.
“It has a lot of products that I like. I’m excited about its opening.”
Store manager Alyson Thompson was just as excited about the store’s grand opening..
“This location is gorgeous,” Ms. Thompson said. “I’ve been to a few other Ultas here in Delaware. I really like our layout. It looks great.”
She said the store has 10 to 15 employees.
“We have so many different areas in the store,” Ms. Thompson said. “We have a salon in the back, so we tried to find people that are licensed cosmetologists.
“We have people that are brand managers and beauty advisers that have a love for make-up and customer service.”
A woman walks into the newly opened Petco Friday.
Ms. Thompson said she was surprised so many people came out.
“We had a soft opening last week,” Ms. Thompson said. “I felt we had a lot of people come check us out then.
“I’m super excited that this many people are interested in our store.”
Ulta Beauty is just one of many stores opening in the new shopping center that replaced the long-empty north Dover Walmart store.
Walmart closed its original Dover store in October 2011 when it opened a new supercenter store two miles north.
The $12.5 million Walmart Supercenter is on northbound U.S. 13, south of the Cheswold town limits.
The long vacant building was renovated and reduced in overall square footage, from 118,234 square feet to 98,098 square feet.
The renovation was followed by the addition of new storefronts, a division of the building into separate stores and an expansion of the
The Ross store next door will be opening soon.
parking lot.
Tenants include Outback Steakhouse, Ross, Petco, Five Below, Ulta Beauty, Shoe Carnival and an OshKosh B’gosh.
Five Below and Petco recently opened, and Ross and Shoe Carnival are on track to open within the next couple of weeks, said William Neaton, Dover’s economic development director.
Mr. Neaton said the Outback Steakhouse site remains under construction.
Kent County Levy Court commissioner Allan Angel said vacant buildings hurt the city.
“To see new businesses fill these vacant buildings are fantastic not just for the area, but for the people that want to see things differently,” Mr. Angel said.
“I think Dover is on the right track and Kent County is going to continue to support them.”