Best of Delaware: Shopping and Services in 2024

When you want top shopping and services in the First State, these Best of Delaware winners are local favorites.

Bed & Breakfast

Downstate, Readers: Addy Sea Historic Oceanfront Inn

Bethany Beach

Upstate, Readers: The Inn at Montchanin Village & Spa

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Wilmington

Bike Shop

Downstate, Readers: Lewes Cycle Sports

Lewes

Upstate, Readers: Wooden Wheels

Newark

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Bold-Statement Décor

Editors: Kurtz Collection

Wilmington, Glen Mills

Kurtz Collection is far more than a rug store. The Wilmington showroom and Glen Mills boutique offer an eclectic array of bold and beautiful curated furniture, accessories and antiques, along with the handcrafted Tibetan carpets that are a Kurtz tradition. Think colorful, artistic, unique. Principal designer Josephine Kurtz, daughter of the founders, creates timeless interior designs for the latest generation of patrons.

Coastal Conference Space

Editors: Hyatt Place Dewey Beach

Dewey Beach

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Newly and sumptuously redecorated, the hotel offers 10 flexible meeting spaces, including an elegant 4,165-square-foot ballroom that seats 300 guests and an outdoor deck for weddings, team building and other gatherings. The Lighthouse Cove Event Center is outfitted with the latest in audiovisual technology. Catering teams create custom menus reflecting guests’ needs and preferences. Breathtaking views of Rehoboth Bay are included.

Consignment Shop

Downstate, Readers: God’s Way Thrift Store

Dover, Milford, Rehoboth Beach

Upstate, Readers: Designer Consigner

Hockessin

Day Spa (Manicures, Pedicures, Facials, Etc.)

Downstate, Readers: Bad Hair Day

Lewes, Rehoboth Beach

Upstate, Readers: Currie Hair, Skin & Nails

Wilmington

Elevated Coastal Décor

Editors: C&E Furniture + Design

Fenwick Island

Founded in 1979, this third-generation business manages design projects of all scopes and sizes, from helping clients choose a single statement piece to decorating an entire home. Far more than a furniture store, C&E is a boutique showroom and an interior design firm. It’s the definitive destination for coastal and elevated style—a muted, textural take on contemporary design.

First State Souvenirs

Editors: Odysea…Destination Beach

Rehoboth

The shop’s new owners, Patrick Turner and Mary Anne Callaghan, are continuing Odysea’s 40-year tradition as the go-to place for classic T-shirts, all with original graphic designs, as well as shell and glass jewelry and keepsakes. Shoppers will find beach-shack accessories and whimsical reminders of surf-side fun. Odysea also carries a full line of Kala ukuleles, including cases and tuners.

Florist

Downstate, Readers: Not Too Shabby

Milford

Upstate, Readers: Flowers by Yukie

Flowers by Yukie
Flowers by Yukie. Photo by Becca Mathias.

Wilmington

Gift Store

Downstate, Readers: Farmhouse 302

Milford

Upstate, Readers: Heart & Home Gifts and Accessories

Newark, Wilmington

Gourmet To-Go

Editors: Janssen’s Market

Wilmington

In the 1960s, seeing butlers and housekeepers shopping at Janssen’s for well-heeled customers with tabs wasn’t unusual. Things have changed, but Janssen’s is still the place to go for gourmet cheese, top-quality meat and hard-to-find ingredients. Over the years, the market’s prepared foods section has expanded. A culinary crew turns out soups and chili, salad bar fixings, spreads, appetizers and main courses.

Hair Salon (Men)

Downstate, Readers: Bad Hair Day

Lewes, Rehoboth

Upstate, Readers: Salon Bartolo

Wilmington

Salon Bartolo
Salon Bartolo. Photo by Becca Mathias.

Hair Salon (Women)

Downstate, Readers: Bad Hair Day

Lewes, Rehoboth

Upstate, Readers: GEM Beauty Co.

Bear

Head-to-Toe Makeover

Editors: Houppette

Wilmington

This boutique has long been our go-to for skin care, cosmetics and special-occasion makeovers, and now it’s added even more luxurious skin treatments and med-spa services its menu. On the retail side, find favorite brands like Tata Harper, Natura Bissé and Jane Iredale, plus a thoughtfully curated collection of sleepwear, feminine apparel and accessories. It’s truly a one-stop shop for head-to-toe pampering and prettifying.

Jeweler

Downstate, Readers: Ocean View Jewelers

Millville

Upstate, Readers: A.R. Morris Jewelers

Greenville

Local Seasonings Purveyor

Editors: Henlopen Sea Salt

Lewes

Dave Burris developed an interest in making salt after watching an online video. How hard could it be? He had nearby access to the ocean, but turning saltwater to white salt with an ideal flake was surprisingly challenging. Burris persevered, and now his gourmet salt and blends finish the dishes of some of Delaware’s most respected chefs. The products are primarily available in Sussex County stores or can be purchased online. Recently, he sold Henlopen Sea Salt to Story Hill Farm, which has long been the site of the manufacturing process.

Locally Made Accessories

Editors: Arden + James

Add gorgeous staples to your collection while supporting local talent. Industrial designer Bri Brandt, of Wilmington, has been making handbags for 15 years that are “made to last forever,” she says. Working primarily with leather and waxed canvas, Brandt creates signature totes, satchels, slings and wallets, while always experimenting with fresh styles, textures and even prints.

Wilmington, Kennett Square

Arden + James
Arden + James. Photo by Bri Brant.

Med Spa (Injectables, Lasers, Etc.)

Downstate, Readers: Mint & Needle Medical Aesthetics

Lewes

Upstate, Readers: Beauty Bar by Kristina Ruggerio

Wilmington

Mercantile Experience

Editors: The Brush Factory on Kings

Lewes

There’s something for everyone at The Brush Factory on Kings in Lewes. Enjoy a unique shopping experience and find equally distinctive items to fill your bag. Inventory changes daily but includes a plethora of items—art, furniture, clothing and garden décor. The vendor stalls span multiple rooms in the building; however, each sports an artful beach theme that creates a cohesive look. There’s also a space for fresh produce.

Place to Get Hollywood Hair

Editors: ALO Beauty Bar

Greenville

Get ready for your close-up with a full-service beauty experience at ALO Beauty Bar in Greenville. The sleek salon offers a comprehensive range of services, from cutting to styling, setting the benchmark for A-list glamour. Best known for custom hair coloring and stellar service, the salon has made an unwavering commitment to sustainability. In collaboration with the Green Circle Salons program, ALO recycles 95% of its waste, including everything from hair foils to color tubes, so guests can feel good about their new look and protecting the environment.

Place to Pop Your Collar

Editors: Wilmington Country Store

Greenville

WCS has carried preppy apparel and accessories for the ladies and gents of Greenville since 1952. Fellas will find favorites from brands like Barbour, Duck Head and Johnnie-O, while women can shop such labels as Lily Pulitzer and Eileen Fisher. In the back, former neighbor Ellie boutique occupies a “shop within a shop,” offering more fashion-forward items for the younger generations.

Skin Rejuvenation

Editors: MagnifaSkin MedSpa

Wilmington

Beyond Botox, MagnifaSkin offers clinical treatments that focus on skin health and anti-aging, in keeping with the med spa’s mantra: Look good. Feel better. Options include state-of-the-art laser skin rejuvenation, chemical peels, IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy and more. The anti-aging facial cleanses with organic products, exfoliates dulling dead skin cells and enhances the skin with serums containing hyaluronic acid and retinol.

Surf Shop

Statewide, Readers: Dewey Beach Surf Shop

Dewey Beach

Dewey Surf Shop
Dewey Surf Shop. Photo by Maria DeForrest.

Swimwear

Downstate, Readers: Pineapple Princess

Rehoboth Beach

Upstate, Readers: Bare Essentials

Wilmington

Tattoo Artist/Shop

Downstate, Readers: Homeward Tattoo & Body Piercing

Rehoboth Beach

Upstate, Readers: Poppycock Tattoo

Poppycock Tattoo
Poppycock Tattoo. Photo by Becca Mathias.

Wilmington

Therapeutic Spa Treatments

Editors: Zen Spa & Studio Z

West Fenwick

Soothe mind and muscles with massages that address stress and maximize wellness. Regrets about too much time on the beach? Anti-aging facials help repair sun damage. Good Karma CBD-infused massages, facials, manicures and pedicures are formulated to reduce inflammation and help repair cells. The cherry on top: Studio Z Blowout and Color Bar and the Nail Bar at Zen.

Way to Unwind

Editors: Heaven & Health

Greenville

Pictographs throughout the Middle East and Asia hint at reflexology as an ancient healing modality. Therapists believe certain reflex points on the feet, hands and ears correspond with specific parts of the body, and that we can treat ailments by pressing on these points. While there’s no hard science to support these effects, thousands of years of Eastern anecdotal evidence is compelling. Heaven & Health offers reflexology as a stand-alone treatment or as part of a full-body massage. “The goal of [both] is to activate the parasympathetic nervous system to help the body rest, digest and heal,” explains massage therapist Naomi Hoffman. “Our feet have thousands of nerve endings in them, so this directly affects our nervous system.” So go ahead, kick up your feet and…relax.

Wedding Venue

Downstate, Readers: Clubhouse at Baywood

Millsboro

Upstate, Readers: Hotel du Pont

Wilmington

Related: Shop Crystals, Tarot and More at Delaware’s Metaphysical Shops

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