Even with rainy weather, excited customers turned out Friday morning for the new Burlington store’s grand opening at its 515 N. DuPont Highway location. Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen cuts the ribbon to mark the official opening of the store. (Delaware State News/Ian Gronau)
DOVER — Despite gloomy weather dozens of people lined up for the new Burlington store’s grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at its 515 N. DuPont Highway location Friday morning.
Burlington Stores, a national off-price retailer, officially launched the 55,046-square-foot store which is now the chain’s third in the state. The other two stores are in Newark and Claymont. Burlington has 568 stores throughout 45 states and Puerto Rico.
The store features men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, accessories and footwear. It also includes furniture and accessories for babies, home decor and coats.
Denise Timms was hired to work at the new location in late August. She had been working with the company in its receiving department since the 1990s when the store chainwas called Burlington Coat Factory.
“I like working for Burlington because it’s such a calm atmosphere and the company itself is just warm,” said Ms. Timms. “We have a great staff and great customers.”
Ms. Timms is one of the approximately 75 associates hired at the new location. She is particularly proud to be a part of the store’s many philanthropic efforts targeted at the neighboring community.
As part of the chain’s Burlington Gives Back effort in partnership with K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers, the store donates new merchandise to the Newark-based Exceptional Care for Children (ECC). The EEC improves the lives of technology-dependent children and their families through skilled nursing, transitional and palliative care.
On Friday, three large pallets of new merchandise were wheeled out and loaded up for ECC.
At the event the store also presented Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen with a check for $8,842 for local school projects through a partnership with DonorsChoose.org.
“It’s our privilege to work in Dover, and this company is all about giving back to the communities it does business in,” said store manager Susan Herron. “This check will go on to impact 1,422 students in Dover directly through their schools.”
Throughout the year, the new store also plans to participate in other initiatives. They include The Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Coat Drive, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk and Women’s Heart Health.
Mayor Christiansen echoed the enthusiasm of the gathered customers on Friday when he officially welcomed the business to Dover.
“The most important thing is that this project brought all of you together as a team to work together with our city as a team to make this happen,” he said. “We’re grateful that you’re here, and we want you to stay here for a good long time. Before you moved in, we had over 200 phone calls at my office asking ‘is it true that a Burlington is coming to Dover?’”
Bertha Arrezola and her daughters Serena and Sadie, of Smyrna, were among the excited customers. Ms. Arrezola said she appreciates the sale prices Burlington offers, but used to have to travel all the way to Newark. Now that a location is closer to her home, she anticipates shopping at Burlington more often.
Taking advantage of the grand opening celebration, she and her daughters came on Friday to shop for shoes and dresses.
“Whatever I buy for the girls has to have cats on it,” Ms. Arrezola said.
The grand opening festivities continue today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with gift card giveaways, face painting, free popcorn and more.
The store’s hours are 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
For more information, visit www.BurlingtonStores.com.