andThat! store set to close outside Rehoboth

After being open less than six years, andThat! outside Rehoboth Beach is closing. Bright yellow signs announcing the closure went up on the store’s door recently. A specific closing date has not yet been announced.

The home goods and seasonal decor store, which is part of the Christmas Tree Shops brand, was part of an end-to-end renovation of a building that was once a 56,700-square-foot Kmart. All Christmas Tree Shops and andThat! stores are going out of business.

The redevelopment of the former Kmart property began mid-year 2017, with its downsizing by nearly three-quarters to accommodate andThat! and PetSmart. They opened in early 2018. 

The smaller Kmart that remained officially closed its doors in full in early 2020. Aldi, a budget grocery store from Germany, opened in late 2021. Renovations are underway for the space between Aldi and andThat!, which will be a TJ Maxx store. No opening date has been announced for that store.

According to Sussex County property records, the roughly 13-acre piece of land also includes the large parking lot and the Chick-fil-A restaurant. Records show the property, 19563 Coastal Highway, was sold in November for a little more than $20 million to a company named Coastal One Properties LLC.

This is the second national chain to announce the closing of a local branch this year. While no specific closure date has been announced, Bed Bath & Beyond has had large store closing banners hanging since at least early May.