The Dover Mall is located a short distance south of an interchange with Delaware Route 1.

The mall was originally anchored by Boscov's, Leggett, and Sears, and cost approximately $20 million to build.

[7] The food court opened with several eateries including 1 Potato 2, The Great Hot Dog Experience, and Sbarro Pizza.

[12] The lawsuit had claimed that a 1979 lease agreement prohibited the theater operator from opening any new locations within a 5 mi (8.0 km) radius of its mall.

Named Dover Commons, the center added an additional 52,000 sq ft (4,800 m2) of retail space to the property.

[14] On September 28, 1992, construction began on a 116,480 sq ft (10,821 m2) addition onto the east side of the mall, to house a fourth anchor store.

[15] JCPenney opened on August 4, 1993, after relocating from the struggling Blue Hen Mall, 4 miles (6.4 km) south.

The new location was 20,000 sq ft (1,900 m2) larger than the previous Dover store, in addition to presenting a "richer, more upscale appearance".

[16] The Dover Mall received its first renovation in 1993, removing the existing raised planters and center court fountains.

[23] Old Navy opened a 21,000 square feet (2,000 m2) store in the fall of 2000, filling space vacated by Lerner, Express, and Structure.

The Mills wanted to add approximately 500,000 sq ft (46,000 m2) of new stores and entertainment venues to the property, including an ice rink and skate park.

[28] In 2013, the Dover Mall added several new stores, including Forever 21[6] and a new 53,183 sq ft (4,941 m2) Dick's Sporting Goods that opened on November 10, 2013.

[34] The Pier 1 Imports store in Dover Commons closed in early 2020 due to the chain's bankruptcy.