Weave's Guide to The Christiana Mall

What it is and What I Think!

Christiana Mall is one of the most successful malls in the country. Delaware's lack of a sales tax draws business from Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey, which are only about 10-20 minutes away. Christiana Mall is also the favorite of locals who refer to it as simply "the mall."

Directions

By Car

Christiana Mall is easily accessible from exit 4A of Interstate-95, as well as the northern terminus of State Route 1, just a short half kilometer south of I-95.

By Bus

Christiana Mall is served by many DART First State buses. Simply find which route serves your location and click for the bus schedule.

Route 5 -- Wilmington, Delaware Park, Maryland Avenue, Newport, Stanton
Route 15 -- Wilmington, New Castle, Corporate Commons
Route 31 -- Kirkwoord Highway, Prices Corner
Route 33 -- Wilmington, Metroform, Ogletown, Newark
Route 34 -- Newark, Ogletown, Christiana, Marrows Road
Route 40 -- 7&40 area (hell's kitchen), Glasgow, People's Plaza
Route 54 -- Wilton, Christiana, the 7&40 area of hell
Route 55 -- Old Baltimore Pike, Glasgow, People's Plaza
Route 56 -- Churchman's Crossing shuttle
Route 301 -- Middletown, Smyrna, Dover

By Bicycle or Foot

You gotta be kidding. Christiana Mall was designed in the early 80s, surrounded by a sea of asphalt and limited access highways. We should feel fortunate that they allow buses in. Those who go to the Mall on foot (and believe me, I've tried) have to dodge across congested freeway ramps and risk certain death.

Commentary by Weave

Shopping malls seem to have a half-life of about 10 years. As soon as the construction bills are paid for, a newer fancier mall opens up down the street and the older mall dies a horrible, painful, and unsightly death. Christiana Mall, however, has avoided that. Vacancies are almost non-existent, and many of the stores in the mall have the highest sales of any store in their entire chain.

The "Mall" has a great mix of stores, with the usual exception of an over-abundance of shoe stores. You will also be glad to know that the Christiana Mall is fully compliant with the alleged federal law that there must be a Radio Shack in every mall in the U.S.A. The mall is billed as an "upscale" mall, with many fine shops to choose from. What is great about the Christiana Mall is its location in Delaware. Due to Delaware's lack of any sales tax, you can shop "upscale" and save money too. (Delaware residents get socked with high state and property taxes so you can shop tax free!)

If you grow tired of the upscale atmosphere, pop into the mall's food court area, named Cafe USA. In it you will hear and see TV sets blasting commercials and alleged entertainment from all angles. Apparently the mall's management wanted to turn a part of the mall into a tacky "farmer's market" or "outlet mall" like ambiance, and I must say, they've succeeded very well. Come to the food court and watch mindless shoppers stare upwards at the televisions totally without awareness of those around them (and indeed, how could you carry on a conversation with the over-modulated TVs blaring at you).

If you would rather eat your meal in peace and actually converse with someone nearby, Christiana Mall has two fine eating establishments; Ruby Tuesdays and Italian Bistro

If you are looking for entertainment, come down to the mall on Friday or Saturday nights and see the fine selection of 12-18 year old "mall rats" hanging about, especially in the food court area. Watch as the "mall's finest" spend all of their time trying to break up and keep the rats a scurrying. You'll be very impressed as you watch the cool kiddies light up their cigarettes and puff away outside the movie theaters. Yes indeed, they are real cool and they want all around them to know it.

The mall also has a five-screen movie theater. However, take Weave's advice and head north up Route 7, then east on Route 4, about 3 miles to Cinemark's 10-screen theater. It's cheaper, cleaner, the screens are larger than your TV set at home, and the snack bar has a better selection. Cinemark's theaters are a bit more "disabled friendly" as well, having cutouts near seats so those in wheelchairs don't have to sit in the back by themselves.

The Big Box Invasion

While not literally part of Christiana Mall, big boxes have popped up on the land adjacent to the Mall. These big puppies include Circuit City (pushers of the idiotic DIVX system), Costco, Dick's Sporting Goods, and a few others. Personally, I wish BJ's Wholesale moved in instead of Costco. I think it'd be cool to see the massive Dicks and BJs as you walk into the mall to get screwed...

Consumer Rip Off Alert

Christiana Mall has removed all genuine Bell Atlantic pay phones and installed look-alike private pay phones. BE CAREFUL. First of all, local calls cost 35 cents every 5 minutes (real pay phones in Delaware charge 35 cents for unlimited time). But most importantly, the operator service provided is NOT someone you know and love (like AT&T, Sprint, or MCI). This means potential HUGE telephone charges if you call collect or dial 0+. So, as they say on the adverts, "know the code." Dial 1-800-COLLECT, 1-800-CALL-ATT, or whatever it takes. Just DO NOT dial 0+ and your number.

Why do they do this? Because the COCOT (Customer Owned Coin-Operated Telephone) operator approaches businesses and offers a real nice chunk of the extra high revenues from the phone. Businesses think customers don't care. Make sure you tell them you care.

Personally, I'll be happy when portable phones get so cheap that everyone can carry one and run these COCOTs out of business...

Last page update: 20 November 1996
Source Document: N/A.
Official URL for this page: http://www.dtcc.edu/delaware/mall/christiana/
Page Maintained by: Ken Weaverling
Copyright: © 1996, 1998 Ken Weaverling Disclaimer: This is a private effort and done as a public service. If you think Christiana Mall had anything to do with this, or paid for this in any way, you're dreaming!