Regarding the Dover Station "tenant": A year ago there was a proposal for a bagel shop. In the end, the operator essentially wanted nothing to do with the DE passengers, except if they were buying bagels, etc. This time around with the deli operation, there is a extensive lease agreement that requires deli employees to have a one day course on the operation of the DE, tickets and information. If the deli is a major success, the employees sure won't have time to be checking the status of the train and when it is late, such as during temperature speed restrictions, weather events and the infamous PAR freight train breakdowns.
The station building was never designed to have a separate area for a tenant that can be secured when the tenant is not open and still provide at least some waiting room facilities. The main entrance to the station is on the east end facing the high level platform, while the rest rooms are on the west end beyond the end of the low level platform. Initially, it appeared that only the vestibule on the east end and the rest rooms on the west end would be open when there was a station host available and the deli was closed, which would have included weekends, as the original contract called for a 6 AM to 2 PM Monday to Friday deli operation. The Foster's article seems to have modified that.
As noted in a post above, the Trainriders/NE has had a modest group of volunteer hosts staffing the station for most DE arrivals and departures. In addition to assisting passengers, they also "policed" the station and platform area for trash and other duties. Half or more of these volunteers are well along in years and if there is no longer a counter area inside the station for them to do passenger business, I don't expect them to continue to be station hosts.
Three other sub/pizza type shops, one across the tracks from the station and two others in the next block have closed their doors within the last month. The contract for the station deli extends out for five years. Several other eateries in the downtown area have closed over the past year.
At any rate, the 63,000 plus passengers that boarded and detained at Dover will surely have less facilities available at the Dover station in the future.