Milford question (Dover, Middletown, Lewes: real estate market, lease, hotels)

[toobusytoday]

I am from Milford but moved away from Delaware almost 30 years ago after my husband and I married. My parents and sister also moved away and the only time I've been back was a few years ago for a HS reunion and once we drove through going back to PA from the beach.

This July my husband and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary and I've been toying with the idea of going back to Milford and having dinner at Shawnee Country club where we had our wedding reception and attending church in Milford where we were married. Alternatively, maybe we could just walk through the church and country club and look around Milford too. My Dad was a member of the church where we married but I attended a different one and would most likely want to go there on the Sunday.

So, if we spend a weekend in July in Milford, what's new? Where should we go (besides my old neighborhood, which will take all of five minutes) and where should we stay? I only remember eating at the Diner or Tastee Freez as a teenager and I'm guessing there are some better choices now!

Another thought is to just hold off this nostalgic trip until September when the hoards of tourists are gone so we can also visit Rehoboth - where we met and fell in love.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

I am from Milford but moved away from Delaware almost 30 years ago after my husband and I married. My parents and sister also moved away and the only time I've been back was a few years ago for a HS reunion and once we drove through going back to PA from the beach.
This July my husband and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary and I've been toying with the idea of going back to Milford and having dinner at Shawnee Country club where we had our wedding reception and attending church in Milford where we were married. Alternatively, maybe we could just walk through the church and country club and look around Milford too. My Dad was a member of the church where we married but I attended a different one and would most likely want to go there on the Sunday.
So, if we spend a weekend in July in Milford, what's new? Where should we go (besides my old neighborhood, which will take all of five minutes) and where should we stay? I only remember eating at the Diner or Tastee Freez as a teenager and I'm guessing there are some better choices now!
Another thought is to just hold off this nostalgic trip until September when the hoards of tourists are gone so we can also visit Rehoboth - where we met and fell in love.

Toobusytoday: Sorry nobody answered your post sooner, and even sorrier we lost a local. I'm a 5th generation local. You will find that Milford is much different since you left. In fact, in my 67 years here, Delaware has turned in to a whole different state, because of the tremendous influx of new people. But, I believe other states are suffering the same growing pains. Within the City of Milford there are new restaurants, and some of the older ones have opened under new names. There are a couple of motels, but Dover is absolutely loaded with new hotels/motels, much more reasonably priced than Lewes. Milford just elected a new Mayor, replacing Mayor Rogers who's been in office almost 30 years. The new Mayor has come from New Jersey. Tax rolls I examine indicate about 5-10% Delawareans own properties in Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach, and don't even think you can take a leisurely ride down to Rehoboth as you did 30 years ago. I think you'd be wise to wait until after Labor Day, as you mentioned. Milford is now considered "almost the beach". The Delaware real estate market is in a state of decline (as in most areas) but many prefer to describe the market as being "more realistic" with homes being priced more within reason. 55+ communities are popping up everywhere, and the leased land concept is now a legislative issue.There's been a moratorium on approving subdivisions in Kent County, because of the over building, basically because the infrastructure does not support the sudden growth. On Route 1 (Lewes & Rehoboth) there was a moratorium on commercial building, but I'm not sure what the status on that is now. There's also a positive side.....more business establishments throughout the state, more things to do, no smoking in public places and a plus or minus - 2 Casinos in Kent County. Route 1, the new north-south linkage route, also changed the face of the state, and that's basically how many discovered our "best kept secret". Feel free to ask any other specific questions, and I'll surely offer anything I know. I'm on my break from working at Old Dover Days (this weekend) but I'll return here early evening.
Delly

[toobusytoday]

Thanks Delly!
I had forgotten about Mayor Rogers until you mentioned his name, but I think he was in the Kiwanis club with my father.

Funny to think of Milford as "almost the beach" but it really is pretty close. I actually don't remember too many leisurely rides to the beach even 30 years ago except between September and April, but I am a traffic wuss. The frustrating thing about traveling to lower, slower DE from here (I live near Allentown, PA) is that not only do we have the yucky traffic from Milford down but first we have to get through the Northern DE traffic. I don't like to visit my folks in South Jersey on weekends because of that traffic. September may well be better.

I noticed three bed and breakfast places listed on a Milford website. Downtown Milford Delaware Do you have any opinions on them?

Also, I'm curious about the downtown area. Shortly after I moved out, Leggetts department store moved from the downtown area to a strip mall outside of town. It seemed like the downtown went downhill after that. What's the downtown area like now? It also looks like the library is in a different place, but I'm only saying that by looking at a picture on their website. Because I pretty much grew up in Milford, I discovered much of what I knew and remembered by riding my bike around and didn't pay too much attention to street names.

[rdlr]

toobusy.......So much has changed in Milford, I don't know where to begin, but I'll try. No more Leggett's, there's a strip center caddy-corner from Hammond Cadillac and there's a People's Dept. Store in there, along with the usual fast food, grocery, liquor stores. Peoples is somewhat comparable to Leggetts, but there's no other nice dept. store in Milford. There's a WalMart, though! The Shine Theater is now a Church which is being remodeled and it now has a stucco exterior. They've redone the Walnut Street downtown area and it's really attractive with brick sidewalks, landscaping, flowers....and also the Riverwalk, is very nice, along the Mispillion. I don't know anything about bed and breakfasts. Across the street from Shawnee Acres is a new subdivision, Shawnee Meadows, typical tract style housing. There also are other new subdivisions surrounding the City. Park Place, on Washington Street is still there, though! As like every other place in Delaware, there are more people I don't know, then I DO know in Milford. The Route 1 By-Pass made it possible for Delaware to be well known, and I'm sure you know that lots of retirees are coming from all over, to Delaware. Hope I've answered a couple of your questions. Let me know what other specifics you want to hear.

[rockky]

Delly, I don't want to sound as if I know as much about DE as you...I don't. I do, however, know shoppin'. I think you may have meant to say that there is a Peebles Store in Milford. That particular store in Milford isn't one of the nicest Peebles. The one down at the beach, just north of Rehoboth next to the SamWallyGottcha, is better.

btw, does CRS mean Compulsive Retail Syndrome?

toobusytoday, I'm living not too far north of where you are now. It seems I need to discover more about your area. I did hit the Marshall's/HomeGoods store last week. I don't shop retail, but I have been known to travel long distances to browse through a Ross Store. I haven't been to the one in Allentown yet.

Delly, is sooo right when she says that things have changed a great deal in DE. Middletown and south is a different world than it was 30 years ago. A lot of the change has been in the last 10 years. Eastern Sussex County exploded, and the ripples are spreading out from there.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by rockky

Delly, I don't want to sound as if I know as much about DE as you...I don't. I do, however, know shoppin'. I think you may have meant to say that there is a Peebles Store in Milford. That particular store in Milford isn't one of the nicest Peebles. The one down at the beach, just north of Rehoboth next to the SamWallyGottcha, is better.

Whoops! Yep, that's it....(got to stop 'sounding' it out!)
Thanks, Roc!

[movn2del]

Originally Posted by rockky

btw, does CRS mean Compulsive Retail Syndrome?

That is a good one!

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by movn2del

That is a good one!

I so enjoy tongue in cheek humor.....provided by you both, roccky and movin!

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by rockky

Delly, I don't want to sound as if I know as much about DE as you...I don't. I do, however, know shoppin'. I think you may have meant to say that there is a Peebles Store in Milford. That particular store in Milford isn't one of the nicest Peebles. The one down at the beach, just north of Rehoboth next to the SamWallyGottcha, is better.

Peebles.....Peoples
Maybe I'm a graduate of "hooked on phonics"
Sorry, it's late, I'm working, and getting giddy!

[maryCh]

Hi toobusy,

We are sorta new to DE, still working on our first year as residents. Don't know what Milford of years gone by was like, as we always did the Rte 13 shuffle when taking our road trips from Va Beach to NY and back.

What I have seen of today's Milford is quaint and full of small town charm. The downtown area seems to be quite nicely done/re-done, as the case may be. The roller rink reminds me of where I skated as a teen many moons ago... smallish but comfortable for families. Have lunched at the Georgia House with a group a few weeks ago... good food and beautiful decor! Don't know how long its been there, but definitely worth one meal there while you're back in town!

Since we have not experienced a summer living in DE as yet, I will defer to those who know MUCH better than I would even venture to guess on traffic, etc. Rockky and Delly definitely know so much more of what they're talkin' about... you'd be wise to take heed to what they say!

Congrats on 30 yrs with hubby... and what a charming love story that started it all! One of these days, I'll send you a message, as I need to learn more about your neck of the woods (Allentown, PA)... but that is a topic for another day.

Take it easy... and enjoy to trip with hubby, whenever you decide to venture back down this way! Mary