Delaware
Visiting Delaware beaches this summer? What’s different in 2026
Warm spring day in Rehoboth Beach
Temperatures were in the 70s in Rehoboth Beach on April 17, 2026.
Every year in the wintertime, Delaware beaches undergo a transformation.
Stores and restaurants close, stores and restaurants open, rules change. By Memorial Day weekend, for the most part, everything is in its place, and ready to serve the masses.
This winter, the price of parking went up in Lewes, several storefronts and restaurants changed hands in Rehoboth Beach, and notable changes were made further south.
If you’re among the more than 7 million visitors headed to Delaware beaches in late spring or summer, or even if you’re just a local who hasn’t gotten out much lately, here’s what’s changed in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island as the season heats up.
Rehoboth Beach
The osprey are still nesting atop the fire siren in Rehoboth Beach, but “The Nation’s Summer Capital” has one change this year visitors are sure to notice.
Two drop-arm or swing gates and numerous bollards are being or have been installed in the area of the boardwalk and bandstand on Rehoboth Avenue. Bollards are sturdy, vertical posts designed to prevent vehicles from driving onto sidewalks or the boardwalk, while the drop-arm or swing gates will provide access to emergency vehicles.
Over on the corner of Wilmington Avenue and Bayard Avenue, there’s an empty space where several restaurants once stood. Many remember it as home to the beloved Chez La Mer in the 1980s and 90s, but it was demolished over the winter. It’s slated to become a two-story building with retail on the first floor and an apartment on the second.
What’s happening with the two major hotel projects on the boardwalk? Nothing right now. Construction on the planned One Rehoboth hotel is paused until the fall, and demolition to make room for the planned Belhaven has not yet begun, either.
New and closed Rehoboth restaurants
The Market at 59 Baltimore is Chef David Kneller’s new gourmet grab-and-go kitchen, with the concept’s adjacent restaurant to open in the coming weeks.
Across the street at 58 Baltimore Ave., Frank & Louie’s became Pazzo Italian last fall. Don’t worry, you can still get your favorite sandwiches.
Over at 204 Rehoboth Ave., the tiny Gather Alfajores is open, featuring the South American shortbread cookies with a dulce de leche center and other artisanal baked goods.
Pink Flamingo, at 222 Rehoboth Ave., opened in late 2025. It has just about every dessert item you can think of, but is best known for its viral desserts: Dubai chocolate, “freakshakes” and trompe-l’œil cakes.
At 47A Rehoboth Ave., signage is up for Ledo’s Pizza in the former Five Guys space, but no other details are known yet. At 46 Baltimore Ave., the tapas-style Sea Hag Champagne Lounge is expected to open soon.
Coho’s Market at 305 Rehoboth Ave. is closed and will be the new home of JAM Bistro. Eden restaurant, located for a long time at 53 Baltimore Ave., moved out to 20200 Coastal Highway.
In First Street Station, Jerk and Jambalaya opens May 16, serving Caribbean and soul food. Also in First Street Station, White House Black Market and Tidepool Toys and Games have closed.
The Point Coffee House & Bake Shoppe, located where Rehoboth Avenue meets Coastal Highway, closed in March. One of the owners, Jennifer Zerby, said the property is being prepared to be sold.
On the boardwalk, Baja Bob’s is the now The Dunes. It’s beneath Above the Dunes restaurant – get it? All three are owned by Bob Frankis.
Out on Coastal Highway, Kaja Asian recently opened in Midway Center, from the owners of and in the former location of Palm Beach Bar & Grill. Also in Midway Center, 1776 Steakhouse has been fully renovated and is under new ownership.
Iron Hill Brewery, at 19791 Coastal Highway, closed abruptly last year. It’s planned to become Three Notch’d Brewery, but an opening date is not yet known.
In Tanger Outlets Seaside, signage is up for Dave’s Hot Chicken, but no other details are known yet.
The downtown Rehoboth Beach Starbucks closed in September, too. Rehoboth Beach Running Company moved into that space from just a few doors down in The Shops at the Pearl.
New and closed Rehoboth stores
Lia Lane Boutique will soon open at 146 Rehoboth Ave., No. 3, which was last a sunglasses shop.
High Tide Fibers is open at 36 Baltimore Ave., formerly home to Grace Boutique, and Coastal Corner is open in Rehoboth Avenue’s Penny Lane, in a space formerly home to Penny Lane Lighting.
Enjoy thrifting? All Saints Parish Thrift Shop in the Forgotten Mile closed and is now located in Midway Center. Another location is expected to open soon in the former Old Wood Delaware building on Route 9 in Harbeson.
There’s also a brand-new thrift store in the Forgotten Mile. Ocean Blue Thrift Store is located at 20644 Coastal Highway.
And, of course, Rehoboth is home to Tanger Outlets. Sephora, lululemon and Vuori are all opening soon in Tanger Outlets Surfside. Eddie Bauer is on its way out.
Lewes
The biggest change in Lewes this year is that the cost of parking has gone up.
Starting May 1, meters are now $3 per hour at the beach and $2 per hour downtown from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
New and closed Lewes restaurants
The Lewes Diner, at 1201 Savannah Road, closed last year and is now home to Vino Del Mar, a restaurant and wine bar. A Hopkins Creamery store is set to open next door.
Rare Steak and Seafood is now open in in the Weis shopping center at the Villages of Five Points, taking the space that used to be Ocean Grill. The building has been fully renovated.
Acai favorite Bountiful Bowls has moved from its location on Dreamweaver Lane to the Shoppes at Lewes, at 412 E. Savannah Road.
Also at the Shoppes at Lewes, the Daily Market is being renovated and will become Market 1631. A sign in the window says it will feature snacks, deli, ice cream, grab-and-go and groceries.
Out on Coastal Highway (or just off it), after Bob Evans closed last year, 34571 Postal Lane became a First Watch.
New and closed Lewes stores
Several storefronts have changed on Second Street.
At 111 and 113 Second St., Deanna’s and Piccolino closed and Lewes Dry Goods Co. opened. Across the street at 114, Henlopen Trading Co. closed and Lula Blue, a home accessories shop, opened. At 130 Second St., Gypsy Myst closed and is now Flair, a women’s boutique.
On Front Street, The Stepping Stone is closed and Lewes Artists’ Gallery opened in its place.
On Third Street, Old Wood Delaware closed and will become Moon Coins Market, according to Lewes Chamber of Commerce President Betsy Reamer. Moon Coins is from Megan Collective, which also owns Bramble & Brine at The Buttery and other restaurants. The Moon Coins website says it will feature coffee, donuts, cookies and flowers.
Dewey Beach
Metered parking will begin at 9 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. in Dewey Beach this year, starting May 15. The price is the same at $4 an hour.
Iconic Dewey bar The Starboard has upgraded from an outdoor dining tent to a permanent pavilion. The shark head has been moved to the front of the pavilion and now stretches over the sidewalk.
Also, move over Rehoboth Beach. Dewey Beach now has its own inconvenient osprey nest, atop a crane adjacent to the bay on Rodney Street.
Bethany Beach
Bethany Beach also adjusted paid parking times this year, making it 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. townwide.
Expect the post office downtown to be a lot busier this year. The Ocean View Post Office remains closed and much of its business has moved to Bethany.
New and closed Bethany Beach restaurants
The Blue Crab, at 210 Garfield Parkway, closed last year after 22 years. It is now home to Claws Seafood House.
Stop N Go Taco has opened a second location at 761 Garfield Parkway, in addition to its original Rehoboth Beach location.
The Bethany area – down Route 26 in Millville – also has a new entertainment addition. High Tide VR offers immersive virtual reality arenas at 35246 Atlantic Ave.
Fenwick Island
Fenwick Island Social, a barbecue restaurant, is the latest thing in Fenwick Island, having taken the place of Fenwick Crab House at 100 Coastal Highway.
Also new in Fenwick is Perfectly Pretty boutique, in Ocean Bay Plaza at 1300 Coastal Highway.
Reach Shannon Marvel McNaught at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.
America’s 250th anniversary is rapidly approaching, and over those years the Spring Grove Mill House in Hockessin, DE, has nearly seen it all.
With unbelievable ties to major U.S. events spanning from the Revolutionary War to the first moon walk, the property has a unique place in American history. Were it not for the sleuthing skills of a former police investigator who happens to be the current owner, this home’s fascinating story might have remained buried.
“When my wife Florence and I purchased the Spring Grove Mill House in 2017, we had no idea of the home’s historic significance,” says David E. Deputy, a former captain with the Delaware State Police and a retired brigadier general with the Delaware Air National Guard.
The couple had hoped to retire in an old home constructed before electricity, indoor plumbing, cars, and phones. Though in need of serious renovation, this beautiful six bedroom, 4.5 bath, 4,000-square-foot home set on just over seven acres fit the bill.
However, it wasn’t until a year after their purchase when he was gifted a historical map from 1868 that included his new home—from which he learned the dwelling was actually constructed in the early 1800s and was formerly a mill—that Deputy’s curiosity was sparked and he found himself on a historical path of discovery.
“The investigative skills I practiced as a trooper proved to be valuable in conducting research into the history of Spring Grove,” says Deputy. “However, this time it was like solving a 250-year-old cold case.”
By digging through county deeds, tax records, old maps, archives, newspaper clippings, ancestry sites, talking to former residents, and even studying cannonballs found in the area, Deputy was able to uncover a fascinating line of American history that ran right through his Spring Grove home.
Deputy’s thorough research led to the publication of his new book, “The Spring Grove Mill House: The Home With the Most Ties to American History.” However, he is quick to emphasize the word “ties” in the subtitle since not all of the history linked to Spring Grove happened on site.
Nonetheless, as we stand on the cusp of the United States semiquincentennial celebration on July 4, the journey of this home is a perfect reflection on how many major events have transpired over this nation’s first 250 years.
The scene of a tide-turning Revolutionary War event
On Sept. 8, 1777, General George Washington and 11,000 members of the Continental Army were pursuing British forces that were headed north to seize Philadelphia following the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge in Delaware. At the same time, General George Weedon advanced his brigade to a hillside east of Mill Creek, DE, where a clash broke out that included British and American sharpshooters exchanging shots.
Known as “General George Weedon’s foray at Spring Grove,” the incident may have helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War by serving as a distraction that allowed George Washington to pinpoint the exact location of British forces. He was then able to make strategic adjustments with his troops before the pivotal Battle of Brandywine that occurred three days later.
And that foray happened right on the property where the Spring Grove Mill House now sits.
“One day I found a Revolutionary War map online,” says Deputy. “There was a yellow flash on the map that covered the exact location of the Spring Grove Mill House—our current home—that showed combat happened here in 1777.”
Deputy’s discovery led him to even more about the interaction Weedon had with the redcoats on his property. What he learned was that without the distraction of Weedon’s foray, the British probably would have captured Philadelphia without resistance.
“Such an outcome would have caused embarrassment and caused hesitancy for the French to fully support Washington, which was a major factor in winning the war,” explains Deputy.
In 2023, the State of Delaware put a historical marker to commemorate the foray on the property of the Spring Grove Mill House, which Deputy helped to facilitate.
But this thread to the American Revolution was only the first of many historical connections for this property.
Cotton ties the mill to the War of 1812 and wool to the Civil War
Though the home had been advertised as having been built in 1880, through his research Deputy discovered it was actually constructed much earlier.
The first house was built on the Spring Grove site in the early 1700s in conjunction with a sawmill. In 1787 the milling operation expanded into two operational mills by adding a gristmill.
“Our home, the Spring Grove Mill House, was built in 1813 while the War of 1812 was raging,” Deputy tells Realtor.com®. “The war caused the price of cotton to skyrocket because the British Navy blockaded U.S. ports and at that time the U.S. would ship raw cotton to Europe to be manufactured into cloth and sold back into the U.S.”
As such, there were not enough cotton mill factories to keep up with the demand. To take advantage of this, banks were willing to fund the development of cotton mill factories knowing they would be profitable. That generous funding is what led to the construction of the Spring Grove Mill House, which became the centerpiece of a small village surrounded by the new cotton mill factory, five small stone homes for mill workers, and a barn.
Then a few years before the Civil War, the owner at that time converted the mill to a woolen factory. “This led to a contract with the Union Army to manufacture Kersey wool for blankets and outwear,” says Deputy.
The Civil War connections also extended beyond uniforms and supplies for the Army.
The driveway of the Spring Grove Mill House was once a road that followed along Mill Creek, which also formed a narrow passage in between the Spring Grove Mill House and the cotton mill factory. Deputy discovered that this was once a pathway for the Underground Railroad all the way through the mid-1800s.
“The next mill less than a mile upstream from Spring Grove was a confirmed safe house,” adds Deputy.
Gambling led to a connection with JFK’s assassination
In 1891, there was a suspicious fire at the mill and after 140 years of milling operations, it was never used for those purposes again. However, the home’s history didn’t stop when the milling abated. It simply entered a new phase.
Most notably, the home was purchased by Donald Ross and Wilhelmina Du Pont after the stock market crash in 1929, along with 2,000 more adjoining acres. Thus began what’s known as the Du Pont Ross era of Spring Grove, which lasted for over five decades.
During that time, the Du Pont Ross clan managed to get the state of Delaware to change its constitution to allow gambling. That led to them building Delaware Park, a thoroughbred racetrack that welcomed 20,000 visitors daily throughout the 1900s.
They also raised and trained horses on their land through Brandywine Stables, with one of their horses, Greek Money, winning the Preakness Stakes by a scant nose in 1962.
One of their trainers, Joe Clancy, who lived on the Spring Grove property, had also served in the Marines with JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald in Japan in 1958. Incensed that Oswald would assassinate the president he loved, Clancy apparently left Delaware with a friend to head to Dallas with plans to take out Oswald himself.
“They got arrested in Tennessee buying guns and ended up in jail while Oswald was murdered,” says Deputy, but they and their families still tell the story today. However, it sounds like they literally dodged a bullet.
“At one point after discovering all this old history, I thought to myself, is this house going to be connected in some way with the Kennedy assassination and the Apollo moon landing,” says Deputy. Turns out, it was.
Wilhelmina du Pont Ross sold the Spring Grove Mill House property to the Winton Blount family in 1977.
Winton was the CEO of his father’s construction company, Blount International. They specialized in high tech government projects and built launchpad 39A for the Apollo program.
Apollo 11 launched from that launchpad in 1969—the space flight that put Neil Armstrong on the moon.
Continuing the story while saving the history
Now that the story continues with his family, Deputy says he feels a certain responsibility to preserve it for future generations.
With the painstaking renovations that he and his wife have undertaken (to the tune of $70,000), the home is now physically restored to its past glory. But perhaps just as exciting for Deputy is the history that he uncovered.
“An intentional byproduct of writing this book is to motivate and teach readers how to uncover the history of a home,” says Deputy.
Claiming lottery in Delaware
18 states have laws that allow national lottery prize jackpot winners to remain anonymous, but is Delaware among them?
The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Saturday, June 20, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 20 drawing
16-20-44-48-50, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Play 3 numbers from June 20 drawing
Day: 2-5-0
Night: 3-8-7
Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Play 4 numbers from June 20 drawing
Day: 7-6-9-1
Night: 8-0-3-0
Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from June 20 drawing
04-08-14-19-20-28
Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from June 20 drawing
08-14-31-41-52, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 03
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Play 5 numbers from June 20 drawing
Day: 2-5-5-1-9
Night: 3-9-9-5-4
Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
- Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
- Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
- Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
- For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.
Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?
Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.
How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?
Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.
When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
- Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
- Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.
Date Posted: Saturday, June 20th, 2026
The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (SOAR) is issuing the following public notifications of homeless and wanted sex offenders.
Wanted Sex Offenders
SOAR is currently looking for the following wanted sex offenders after they either failed to register or re-register at their current address. If anyone knows the location of these individuals, please call (302) 739-5882. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333. The individuals shown represent only a portion of the current wanted sex offenders. Please see the Delaware Sex Offender Registry website for the complete list.
Click on the image to see the complete profile
Homeless Sex Offenders
The following individuals are not wanted for failing to register or re-register at their current address. This is a homeless sex offender public notification. If you have information that the listed individuals are occupying a residence, please call (302) 739-5882. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333. The individuals shown are those recently reported homeless and represent only a portion of the current homeless sex offenders. Please see the Delaware Sex Offender Registry website for the complete list.
Click on the image to see the complete profile
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