Lani Schweiger
The Downtown Wilmington App

Downtown Visions released the Downtown Wilmington App, a one stop shop for all the happenings in Downtown Wilmington, DE.

The Downtown Wilmington App
Lani Schweiger
Community Highlight: Christina Cultural Arts ...

In this month’s blog, we are highlighting the Christina Cultural Arts Center Inc. Executive Director, James “Ray” Rhodes discusses the history of the Christina Cultural Arts Center and its importance to our community.

Community Highlight: Christina Cultural Arts Center
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Best of Delaware 2020: Downtown Wilmington Winners!

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It’s that time of year again! Delaware Today has announced its annual Best of Delaware winners. Readers and editors throughout the state have nominated and voted for their favorite Delaware Businesses, and over 18 establishments in our very own Downtown Wilmington community have won!

So please join us in congratulating these well-deserving businesses! It’s no secret that 2020 has been a tough year for the small business owners here in Downtown Wilmington, but with support from their loyal customers, they can and will survive this storm. The magazine said it best: “As the world opens back up and we ease into new habits, your support for the work of our Best of Delaware winners and their peers will be more important than ever.”

Celebrate these winners during the 2020 Best of Delaware Week, July 23–Aug. 1, and support their hard work by visiting their in-store location, ordering take out, or purchasing a gift card!

Reader’s Choice

Editor’s Picks

Riverfront Winners

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Introducing Curbside Wilmington & Free Valet Parking

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Downtown Visions together with Mayor Purzycki, the City of Wilmington, and The Committee of 100 is happy to announce that “Curbside Wilmington” will begin this Friday, June 12th in Downtown Wilmington DE. It is a new initiative designed to support local businesses and encourage patrons to return to the rejuvenated Downtown District this summer. “Curbside Wilmington” will enable Downtown restaurants to expand their outdoor dining into former parking spaces directly in front of their businesses, thereby allowing more seating at safely spaced distances in accordance with Governor Carney’s guidelines. Also, curbside pull-in spots have been designated throughout the Downtown area for all businesses, both retail and restaurants, to use for pick-up and curbside delivery. 

In addition, the 800 block of Market Street will be closed every Friday starting this week, June 12th for a block party with entertainment. The event will take place from 5pm-9pm but the block will be closed to traffic from 8am-10pm.

“Downtown Visions is proud to partner with the Mayor’s Office and The Committee of 100 to help restart our dynamic Downtown restaurant scene,” said Martin Hageman, Executive Director of Downtown Visions. “The diverse eateries that run the length of Market Street and surrounding streets are critical to the economic health of our City.”

The Mayor said he hopes to see this new business re-opening model applied to other restaurant districts in the City in the weeks ahead. “We are bringing back the vibrant, exciting heart of the Downtown Restaurant District, which the COVID-19 pandemic virtually shut down overnight a few months ago,” said Mayor Purzycki.  “While businesses small and large across Wilmington are struggling to adapt to the new environment, we are happy to partner with our friends at Downtown Visions and The Committee of 100 to lend support to businesses trying to meet new challenges.”
 
Jennifer Kmiec said The Committee of 100 is also pleased to support “Curbside Wilmington” to provide enhanced outdoor dining experiences and convenient pick-up/delivery zones to help downtown restaurants and retailers.
 
Downtown Visions will provide additional tables and chairs to restaurants as needed, and custom-made railings created by the Challenge Program will be used for both safety and esthetical purposes.

FREE valet service through Gala Valet will be available starting this week to allow customers to safely park Downtown to dine and/or shop. The service will be available Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at three locations: the intersections of 5th and Market, 7th and Market, and 9th and Market streets.

Meanwhile, Downtown residents will be allowed to park in Colonial Parking lots for FREE by calling Colonial directly at 302.651.3600. The City and its partners today also thanked JP Morgan Chase for its support of the new “Curbside Wilmington” efforts and The Grand for providing outdoor space at its theater for music and entertainment.

For a list of restaurants that are open & ready to serve you, please click here!

Dine in Downtown Wilmington - Restaurants are ready to serve you!

Behind the bar at Makers Alley - Moonloop Photography

Behind the bar at Makers Alley - Moonloop Photography

As Delaware eases restrictions and begins to reopen restaurants across the state, we’ve compiled a list of Downtown Wilmington eateries that are ready to serve you. Whether you’re dining inside or out in the fresh air, reservations are required at most restaurants so be sure to call ahead. Also, masks should be worn when entering the restaurant but may be removed when you are seated so you can enjoy your meal.

  • Stitch House Brewery | 302-250-4280 | Open Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm

  • Tonic Steak & Seafood | 302-777-2040 | Open Mon-Wed 11:30am to 10pm, Thurs-Fri 11:30am to 11pm, Sat 3:00pm to 11pm

  • Chelsea Tavern | 302-482-3333 | Open Mon-Fri 11:30am to 1am, Sat-Sun 10am to 1am

  • Cafe Mezzanotte | 302-658-7050 | Open Mon-Fri 11am to 10pm, Sat 1pm to 10pm

  • Makers Alley | 302-482-1299 | Open Tues-Sat 3pm to close *

  • IM Coffee | 302-300-4935 | Open Mon-Fri 7am to 4pm

  • Mikimoto’s | 302-656-8638 | Open Weds-Fri 4-9pm, Sat-Sun 2-9pm

  • Washington St Ale House | 302-658-2537 | Open Tues-Sat 4-10pm

  • Torbert St Social | 302-407-6627 | Open Fri-Sat 4 to 11pm

  • Dorcea | 302-691-7447 | Open Tues & Sat 4-8pm, Weds-Fri 11:30am to 8pm

  • Jimmy Johns | 302-777-1300 | Open Mon-Fri 11am to 3pm *

  • Bardea | 302-426-2069 | Open Mon-Weds 11:30am to 2:30pm & 5 to 9pm, Thurs-Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm & 5 to 10pm

  • La Fia | 302-543-5574 | Open Mon-Thurs 11am- 2pm & 5-9pm, Fri 11am- 2pm & 5-9:30pm, Sat 5-9:30pm

  • Farmer & The Cow | 302-407-5957 | Open Tues-Sat 12 to 7pm

  • Eat Clean | 302-476-8928 | Open Mon-Fri 7am to 2pm *

  • Tasties 302 | 302-482-2584 | Open Mon-Thurs 11am to 10pm, Fri-Sat 11am to 11pm, Sun 11am to 9pm *

  • Brew HaHa (Del. Ave. Location) | 302-777-5137 | Open Mon-Fri 8am to 1pm *

  • Cavanaugh’s | 302-656-4067 | Open Mon-Fri 11am to 7:30pm

  • Green Box Kitchen | 302-274-2195 | Open Weds-Fri from 12 to 5pm *

*No reservation required.

If you are looking for additional ways to support these restaurants and help them bounce back from COVID-19 and other recent events, please consider donating to the Wilmington Strong Fund, which offers grants to small businesses within the City of Wilmington to ensure they remain open for business.

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Get Back to Business: Resources for Assistance

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Two new funding opportunities were created to help Downtown Wilmington DE establishments get back to business after the past few months.

Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP)

The Delaware Department of Justice created the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program for businesses that were damaged or vandalized following the peaceful demonstrations. VCAP can assist Delawareans with crime scene cleanups (up to $1,000) and personal safety property (up to $1,500).  If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please call VCAP at (302) 255-1770.

The Wilmington Strong Small Business Fund

To support small businesses citywide that are recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, Barclays US Consumer Bank, Cornerstone West, and Wilmington Alliance are announced The Wilmington Strong Small Business Fund. Through a public-private partnership, local economic development organizations have joined forces to ensure Wilmington businesses will remain open for years to come.

The Wilmington Strong Small Business Fund will offer grants of approximately $1,000 to small businesses located in the City of Wilmington to cover specific expenses such as rent payments, mortgage payments, utility and supplier bills. The fund will not only build the capacity of small businesses to recover from the impact of COVID-19, but also build out a community-driven network to serve Wilmington’s favorite shops, restaurants, stores and cafes citywide.

The first round of applications are being accepted through midnight tonight (6/8/2020), with additional rounds to follow shortly after. The application is available in English and Spanish. For questions or more information, please email GLantieri@westsidegrows.org.

The Wilmington Strong Fund is also accepting individual donations. If you would like to support our Downtown Business community, please click the link below.

Image Credit: Moonloop Photography

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Wright & Simon Celebrates 85th Anniversary!

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Wright&Simon

In March, Wright & Simon celebrated their 85th Anniversary! Though the celebration did not go as planned due to the corornavirus pandemic, friends from the Wilmington Police Downtown & Riverfront Unit still found a way to honor this incredible milestone by presenting the owner, Len Simon, with this plaque.

J. Louis Simon, Morris M. Simon, and James H. Wright founded the store in 1935 at 109 West Ninth Street before moving to their new store at the present location of 911 North Market Street.

Through the years, Wright & Simon has maintained the maximum standards of quality, character, and fitting. They look forward to continuing to serve their loyal patrons and also to give new generations of patrons the pleasant surprise of learning a new concept of satisfaction in clothing purchases, available only where quality, character, and perfect fitting come together.

Having shifted from selling off the rack to offering ‘made to measure’ wears, Wright & Simon has withstood the test of time on Market Street. With a legacy like this, nothing is going to prevent Simon from keeping the tradition alive, not event COVID-19.

After 85 years in business, Simon is eager to get back to business serving his loyal customers. "I'm ready to go!" said Simon to ABC News after learning of Carney’s plan to ease restrictions on businesses. "When I first got the news I was somewhat re-energized and feel good about it. It's a start." (Read the full story here.)

CBS Philly also interviewed Simon regarding business during the health crisis, but as the story noted, “no one is dabbling in double-breasted blazers” right now.

Come June 1st, Simon will be ready to open his doors and provide finely crafted men’s clothing once again and our Downtown community will be there to support him. Please join us in congratulating Wright & Simon on the momentous occasion and continue to #ShopSmall now and always!

Learn more about the history of the business and the “Simon Legacy” on their website wrightandsimon.com.