The Nylon Capital Shopping Center redevelopment in Seaford has taken a major step forward with the official opening of The Mill at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Wednesday afternoon.
About 150 people, including city and state officials and members of the business community, attended the event at the new co-working facility.
The 9th Street Development Company, which is spearheading the redevelopment of the 22-acre site, operates at least two similar co-working spaces including one in Wilmington.
The Mill is one of the cornerstones of the Seaford project. As a dedicated co-working space, it is designed to foster innovation, encourage entrepreneurs, and provide fertile ground for starting and growing businesses. Instead of leasing expensive traditional office space, entrepreneurs can rent a desk for as little as $300 a month. A variety of offices are also available for flexible periods.
The facility features open desk spaces, private offices, meeting and conference rooms, high-speed Wi-Fi, printing, a lounge area for informal conversations, and a café.
Robert Herrera, part of the management team of 9th Street Development Company and the founder of The Mill in Wilmington, said the Seaford site holds special meaning for him. “Of all the projects I have worked on, none has been more important to me than The Mill in Seaford,” he told the crowd. “It is my hope that it will become part of Seaford’s resurgence.”
Former Governor John Carney was at the event. Under his administration, the Nylon Capital redevelopment project received $20 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in 2023. “The people of Seaford and Western Sussex wanted something different at this site, and we were able to make that happen,” he said.
Located on Stein Highway in west Seaford, the former Nylon Capital Shopping Center can trace its roots back to the late 1950s. It originally hosted an A&P supermarket and a Woolworth’s department store. By the time the property was acquired several years ago, the complex had become a shell of its former self, with few tenants and decaying buildings.
Since then, a public-private partnership among the state, the city, and the 9th Street Development Company has been at work to bring new life to the prime real estate that serves as Seaford’s western gateway. In addition to The Mill, the redevelopment includes an eclectic mix of retail and institutional uses. Thus far, TidalHealth, DelTech, Community Bank, and multiple businesses, including Vanderwende’s Ice Cream, have committed to the site.
“This is something I have been looking forward to for a while,” said State Rep. Danny Short (R-Seaford), who lives across the street from the property. “After years of hard work on the part of many people, you can now see the shared vision coming to life. Seaford has made great strides in bouncing back from the loss of Dupont and transitioning to a resilient, diverse 21st-century economy. The Mill, and the rest of this redevelopment, will be foundational to the city’s continuing reinvention of itself.”
State Rep. Tim Dukes (R-Laurel), who also attended the ribbon-cutting, said he sees the project becoming a regional attraction, offering healthcare, higher education, specialized services, and an appealing mix of shops and stores. “This is going to not only benefit the people of Seaford but also enhance the lives of people throughout western Sussex. This work illustrates what can be done through collaborative partnerships, a desire to improve the community, and a collective aspiration to build a better future.”
