Dover mayor welcomes small businesses, offers reassurance on industrial project
DOVER – Mayor Shane Gunnoe is promoting the openings of a few commercial businesses while trying to ease fears about a delayed industrial development on the city’s north side.
Gunnoe says the planning commission recently approved a site plan for Blue Hippo Car Wash on Wooster Avenue at the former GE factory site.
“The car wash will be located on Wooster Avenue near Williams Furniture and will be the first business locating on the former GE factory site,” he said. “Construction is expected to begin as soon as the ground thaws and their projected opening date is November 1st.”
Meanwhile, Gunnoe continued to express confidence in the $230 million Schaeffler manufacturing facility expected to bring 450 jobs to the city. Company officials in December said the plant’s opening will be delayed until 2027 because of changing market conditions. Schaeffler officials have said the Dover plant would manufacture electric vehicle components. Gunnoe says he is in close contact with the company.
“Representatives from the Tusc Economic Development Corporation and I remain in close contact with the company throughout this construction process,” Gunnoe said Tuesday. “Just today, I received an update from company officials, and they informed me there has been no change in the status of the project since their last update to the public late last year. They remain committed to both the completion of project and to calling the City of Dover home in the future. Construction is expected to continue in the first several months of 2026, and the building is expected to begin operation in 2027.”
Gunnoe also welcomed the owners of two familiar restaurants to the city. Blazin’ Burgers will celebrate its reopening on February 3rd He says the new owner is Samantha Frye, who two years ago made headlines when as a teenager she bought Rosalie’s Restaurant in Strasburg. Separately, Gunnoe says El Jaripeo, formerly El Pueblito, opened last week.