Thursday, October 29, 2026 · 7:00 AM ET
Middletown DE 19709 · Odessa · Townsend
Good morning. This is our sixth issue, and it leads with what's filling the new building at Northside Shopping Center, plus a busy Nov. 2 Town Council agenda that includes a car wash at the West Main Street Wawa. Halloween is Saturday, Election Day is Tuesday, and we've put nine things to do in one list below.
The Build List
New this week
Here's who is lined up for Northside's new building. Northside Shopping Center is the Target-anchored center on Middletown Warwick Road (Route 299) at Doc Levinson Drive. Its newest piece is a 16,000 sq ft, nine-unit building at the west end, and the center's September leasing plan from Metro Commercial, its leasing firm, lists Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 3&D Personal Training, Potbelly, Cold Stone Creamery and Wonder, with four units of about 1,632 to 1,688 sq ft still open. The same plan shows a 7 Brew drive-thru coffee stand between Popeyes and a large open pad along Middletown Warwick Road. Cold Stone, 3&D (now at 4331 Concord Pike in Wilmington, per its site) and 7 Brew have not announced Middletown locations, and we checked again this week, so treat them as planned, not final. Two are already here: Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Wonder are now open, and Potbelly's sign is up at 455 Middletown Warwick Rd., its first Delaware shop, though it hasn't opened yet. Pads still listed as available include 42,375 sq ft along the road, 3,500 sq ft, 2,862 sq ft near Dash In, and 2,005 to 8,151 sq ft next to Hobby Lobby. Our full rundown, with sources for each name, is on our site, and we'll update it as each business announces.
A car wash at the West Main Street Wawa, a medical office and an indoor golf simulator are on Monday's Town Council agenda. Mayor and Council will take up a plan for a 5,425 sq ft car wash on the existing Wawa parcel at 528 W. Main St., a 7,100 sq ft one-story medical office at 700 and 710 Hedgelawn Way, a 24/7 reservation-only indoor golf simulator at 128 Patriot Dr., Suite 3, and a permit for Dependable Construction of Delaware, doing business as Bargain Barn, to sell scratch-and-dent appliances, grills and mowers at 693 Industrial Dr., per the Nov. 2 agenda. None of these is approved yet. Also on it: renewing the town's trash, recycling and yard waste contract, and historic review of exterior work at 41 W. Main St.
Townsend's last repaving stop is Taylor Street, starting Sunday. No parking on Taylor Street from 7 AM Sunday, Nov. 1. Crews mill the old surface Monday, Nov. 2 and pave Tuesday, Nov. 3 and Wednesday, Nov. 4, per the town. Cars left on the street may be towed at the owner's expense. Expect flaggers and short delays, and the dates can shift with the weather. Hugh Circle, Merle Lane, parts of Helen Drive and N. Commerce Street were done earlier this month. Questions go to the Town of Townsend at (302) 378-8082.
Mayor and Council meets Monday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 PM at Town Hall, 19 W. Green St. Planning and Zoning meets Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 PM; its agenda posts a week ahead.
In Odessa, Mayor and Council meets Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 PM and the Planning Commission meets Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 PM. Town offices are closed Tuesday for Election Day.
This Weekend
Thursday, Oct. 29 to Thursday, Nov. 5
CharBOOterie Crawl, tonight. Thursday, Oct. 29, 5 to 7 PM, downtown Middletown. Six stops with charcuterie courses and optional wine, beer and mocktail tastings: Wisp Bookshop, Volunteer Brewing, Namaste for Life, F+L Boutique, The Red Geranium and Jennifer's Fine Jewelry. Check in out front of the Everett Theatre. $35, ages 21 and up, ID required, costumes welcome. Tickets
Friday night football: Middletown hosts Salesianum. Friday, Oct. 30, 7 PM, Middletown High School, per its schedule. The Cavaliers are home again Nov. 6 against Hodgson.
Boos and Brews Costume Party and Contest. Friday, Oct. 30, 7 to 10 PM, Volunteer Brewing Company, 116 W. Main St., Middletown. Free. Middle8 plays the brewery's last backyard show of 2026, per the brewery; backyard music returns in May.
Boo! at the Zoo, for little ones. Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31, 7 to 9 PM (last entry 8:30), 3 Palms Zoo, Townsend. $6 cash, or $6 plus a 4% fee by card, infants free, hayrides $3. Spooky, not scary, with fire pits and free marshmallows. It's weather-permitting, so check the zoo's Facebook page an hour before. Details
Frightland on Halloween weekend. Tonight, Thursday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 1, ticket booth 6 to 9 PM, 309 Port Penn Rd., Middletown. FrightPass $45 online Thursday, Friday and Sunday, $55 Saturday. Tickets
Delaware Renaissance Faire opens with Halloweekend. Saturday, Oct. 31 and Sunday, Nov. 1, 10 AM to 5 PM, Firebase Lloyd, Townsend (navigate to 375 Saw Mill Branch Rd.). Adults $25, ages 5 to 15 $10, under 5 free, veterans, military and 65+ $20. Rain or shine, free parking. Opening weekend is Halloweekend, with trick-or-treating for kids and themed costume contests each day. It also runs Nov. 7 and 8 and Nov. 14 and 15. Tickets
Trick-or-treat in Middletown. Saturday, Oct. 31, 6 to 8 PM. The town asks costumed kids to be off the streets by 9 PM, per the town. Odessa and Townsend hadn’t posted hours when we last checked. Most Delaware towns use 6 to 8 PM, so check your town’s page before heading out.
Halloween night at The Everett. Saturday, Oct. 31, 47 W. Main St., Middletown. The Trimungus 10 Year Anniversary Spooktacular starts at 8:30 PM (doors 8 PM), free with registration, ages 13 and up. Then The Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight, doors 11:30 PM, $20 with a prop bag. Tickets
Live music: Brass Against at Elkton Music Hall, Elkton, MD. Wednesday, Nov. 4, doors 8 PM, 107 North St., a short drive over the state line. $30 to $53. Details
Good to know. Clocks fall back an hour at 2 AM Sunday, Nov. 1. Tuesday, Nov. 3 is Election Day: polls are open 7 AM to 8 PM, and early voting runs through Sunday, Nov. 1, 11 AM to 7 PM, including at the Appoquinimink State Service Center, 122 Silver Lake Rd., Middletown, per the Department of Elections. Find your polling place at ivote.de.gov.
New and Open
The Brass Tap is planned for Bayberry Town Center. The Brass Tap, an upscale American tavern chain with craft beer, cocktails, a full food menu and live entertainment, signed a franchise deal for its first Delaware location at 235 Town Center Dr. in Bayberry Town Center, per 1851 Franchise (Oct. 12) and RestaurantNews.com. The franchisee is a first-time restaurant owner moving over from corporate pharmaceutical work. The lease is still being negotiated, and no opening date has been set, so hours and prices aren't out yet. We'll tell you when they are.
Looking Ahead
Holiday dates to save
An American Colonial Revival Christmas at Historic Odessa. Tuesday, Nov. 10 through Thursday, Dec. 31, 10 AM to 4:30 PM, per Historic Odessa. The exhibit looks at Christmas customs in 1774, on the eve of the revolution, and pairs with the Storybook Trees exhibit in the Wilson-Warner House. Historic Odessa is closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, per its visitor page.
Twinklefest in Odessa. Saturday, Nov. 21, 1 to 5:30 PM, Corbit-Sharp House grounds, Main Street, Odessa. Expect 45-plus artisans, more than 30 storybook Christmas trees, Santa and Mrs. Claus, a hayride along the Appoquinimink Creek, pony rides, a petting zoo and the Odessa High School Marching Band. At sunset, every building in historic Odessa lights up. Family tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) are $60, or $50 for members; adults $20, kids under 12 $15. Tickets
The Housing Number
MEDIAN SALE PRICE · 19709 · 3 MONTHS ENDING SEPT 2026
$516,848
Down 2% from a year ago
Redfin hasn't posted October yet, so these are the latest numbers, for the three months ending in September. The 19709 median was $516,848, down 2.0% from a year earlier, but homes are moving faster: a median of 49 days on the market, down from 57, and 176 homes sold in September, up from 167. In Townsend (19734), the median was $465,000, up 6.1%, while homes took longer to sell, 45 days versus 30 a year ago, and 58 sold in September, up from 47. Source: Redfin 19709, Redfin 19734.
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Ask Middletown Weekly
Is the Wawa on West Main Street getting a car wash? It's proposed. Town Council will consider a record major land development plan for a 5,425 sq ft car wash inside the existing Wawa parcel at 528 W. Main St., with three pay stations, vacuum stations and a connection to the neighboring lot. It's item 8C on the Nov. 2 Mayor and Council agenda. The meeting is open to the public at 7:30 PM at Town Hall, and we'll report the vote.
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