Economic Development

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR!

I pretty much grew up Downtown in my family’s furniture business (H. Feinberg’s).  My parents worked 6 days per week, including Friday nights.  So, in the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s when I was done with school and afterschool activities, I often found myself in the store.  But I wasn’t just in the store – I was in the neighborhood that was Downtown.  I often ate dinner at the counter at the Federal Bake Shop, where Francis and her sister would feed me and watch over me while my folks were working.  I made my rounds to visit with people that were first my grandparents’ and parents’ friends and just like family, but then became mine – the Simons at Wright & Simon, the Morris’ at A.R. Morris Jewelers, the Glicks at Foley Jewelers, the Jacobs at Lucille’s, the Harts at Al’s Sporting Goods, the Braunsteins, the Govatos’, and the Millers at Millers Furniture, among many others.  Many of these people are still my friends today,  

All of this happened because my grandfather, William Feinberg, famously made a decision in 1965 that renowned Delaware journalist Bill Frank would famously recount in a 1976 News Journal article entitled “The man who believed in downtown” that I still have framed in my home. 

Many do not know that in the 1960’s, Wilmington was seen as being in decline.  Mr. Frank discussed what would come to be known as the “Market Street Decision”, where my grandfather, despite being heavily recruited and incentivized, and unlike so many other Downtown merchants, chose to relocate his business to Market Street from King Street rather than to the suburbs and the new phenomenon of suburban malls.  He was quoted by Mr. Frank as saying “After all, how can I leave the city where I was born (at 6th and Poplar Sts.), and the city where my father started the furniture business (at 301 W. 2nd St.) back in 1901?”  This was rightly perceived as a victory for the vitality of Downtown Wilmington.  I have always been immensely proud of him for putting his money where his mouth was and betting his and my family’s livelihood on Wilmington, and that in large part explains my passion for this city and the Downtown district.

Many people in Wilmington during the latter part of the 20th century used to talk about whether Wilmington’s business district would ever come back.  We really don’t have that conversation anymore.  Through the vision and perseverance of many, Wilmington is back - re-envisioned, strong, and thriving.  Despite the pandemic, new businesses continued to open in 2020 and 2021, many of them Black and/or Female owned including:

And there is an impressive list of exciting things coming soon to Downtown Wilmington including: 

  • Bardea Steak | 608 N. Market St.

  • Boutique Hotel | 519 N. Market St.

  • Crosby Hill Apts. | 517 Shipley St.

  • Saville Apts. | 512 King St.

  • Westover Apts. | 901 Market St.

To this day I still look to shop small and local, and now maybe you understand why.  Nothing against the larger stores or Amazon, but I like to shop where I know it makes a difference.  This is by no means a one-way street – I also get personal service and get to visit with some of my old friends and make new ones.  While the pandemic has certainly taken its toll, growth and renewal is still the path, due to the perseverance of our businesses and so many of you finding ways to adapt and support them.  With the appearance of Omicron this winter, crunch time is here again to support our local businesses as safely as possible.  Please do what you can to safely support our Downtown community and eat in, get curbside or takeout, drink, shop in-store and online, attend shows, stay overnight, purchase gift cards, tip generously, support our nonprofits and make donations.  It will make a huge difference for each and every one of these neighborhood businesses.  At the same time, do yourself a favor – you won’t be disappointed!

Norm Pernick
Senior Advisor
Downtown Visions

Signs of Progress in Downtown Wilmington DE

Downtown Wilmington DE has seen a lot of growth this year. There are changes happening throughout the Downtown, including new construction and the opening of small businesses. Although there have been challenging times for our business community, we continue to persevere and bring innovative initiatives to support the Downtown like Curbside Wilmington and our Free Shipping program that is now offering free shipping with participating Downtown retailers.

Please continue to support our local businesses by dining Downtown, shopping in-store or online with free shipping, buying gift cards and continuing to use services provided by our small businesses. When you shop small you’re not just supporting your neighborhood favorites - you’re investing in your community.

New Openings

AMITY BISTRO | 231 N MARKET ST

Open now in the LOMA area, Amity Bistro started with the simple idea of bringing the best food and entertainment. From their founder to the front-line workers, they put lots of love and careful thought into all they do.

ARTZSCAPE | 223 N MARKET ST

ArtzScape now has a second location on Market Street to bring you more events happening Downtown. They offer an innovative performance and event space for those that prefer an intimate setting. ArtzScape is black owned and operated, providing artistic events, shop small days, private functions, conferences and more.

CIRCA 7 | 205 W 14th ST

Clothing focused on mental health and living perfect moments. Spreading mental health awareness through art, fashion, and community events. Shop Small with Circa 7 online and receive free shipping through December 31st or check out their new shop and remember #theworldneedsyou.

DE SLIDERS CO. | 204 W 10th ST

DE Slider Co. is a unique approach to your classic favorite burger joint. Offering a mouthwatering array of sliders and delicious sides. Their recipes are specially curated, everything is made from scratch and the ingredients are locally sourced. Great food brings people together, and that is the whole mission that has brought DE Slider Co. to life.

Freakishly awesome | 825 N Tatnall ST

A barber shop unlike any other offering top notch service , custom designs, a creative art space and clothing. It’s just a vibe so check them out and live Freakishly Awesome!

Humble fabrics | 306 N shipley st

Looking for material to make a new outfit or trim to embellish your favorite garment? Humble Fabrics is open 7 days a week and specializes in high-quality fabrics and trims . Schedule your fitting with their in-store seamstresses for alterations or custom pieces today.

NAIL’D BY LONDON | 231 n market ST

More than just a nail studio, this creative space for self-care and tranquility allows every customer to experience top-notch treatment. Whether you are interested in a classic look or unique designs, Nail’d by Londyn offers exquisite ambiance & unmatched customer service.

Reopenings

GIRARD Craft and Cork | 224 W 9TH ST

Girard Craft & Cork is back! Stop by their new storefront on 9th Street to shop this one-stop spirits destination built for those with a taste for finer things, a love for local treasures and a strong sense of community.

THE GRAND | 818 n Market ST

We couldn’t be happier to have The Grand open! After closing their doors during the pandemic they are back and better than ever with concerts, comedy shows, live entertainment and more! The Grand is a celebrating 150 years this December as one of the region’s premier performing arts presenters. It sounds like the perfect time to buy show tickets for you or as the perfect holiday gift.

FREE PARKING in Wilmington in August!

Looking for FREE parking in Downtown Wilmington DE? Look no further! During the month of August, visitors can take advantage of not one, but THREE free parking options in Downtown Wilmington.

  • Free Valet Parking - Friday and Saturday nights from 5-10 PM at the corner of 7th & Market Streets

  • Free Nightly Parking - The Wilmington Parking Authority lot at 8th & Orange Streets is free and open to the public if you enter after 6 pm during the week and all day on the weekends.

  • Free Metered Parking- The City of Wilmington also offers metered parking through ParkMobile throughout the Central Business District. Metered parking is free on weeknights after 6pm and on weekends.

Additionally, Colonial Parking offers monthly residential parking at a discounted rate on the surface lots located at 5th & Orange Street, 6th & Orange Street, 7th & Orange Street, and 8th & West Street. Contact Colonial directly at 302.651.3600 to learn more and take advantage of this offer!

4C4B8D21-5E67-497A-B237-2EE3BB7DCAF0.png

Main Street Wilmington Program Receives 2021 Accreditation

MSA2021.png

Downtown Visions’ Main Street Wilmington program has been designated as an accredited Main Street™ program of 2021 for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

Main Street Wilmington’s performance is annually evaluated by Delaware on Main, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet 10 national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building meaningful and sustainable revitalization programs and include standards such as, fostering strong public-private partnerships, documenting programmatic progress, and actively preserving historic buildings.

As a Main Street America Affiliate™, Main Street Wilmington is part of a national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

In 2020, Main Street Wilmington also established programs to help our Downtown Business Community reopen after the COVID-19 shutdown.

  • Curbside Wilmington introduced expanded outdoor dining to support local businesses and encourage patrons to return to the rejuvenated Downtown District during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Expanded outdoor dining allowed Downtown restaurants to expand their patio spaces and 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 were designated throughout the Downtown area for all businesses, both retail and restaurants, to use for pick-up and curbside delivery. 

  • Dine Downtown Deal rewarded customers for supporting downtown restaurants. After submitting 5 eligible receipts from Downtown eateries, diners received a gift card in the amount of 20% of the total meals purchased to the business of their choice in the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District (BID).

  • Free Valet Parking was started during the pandemic to make it as easy as possible for patrons to visit Downtown Wilmington. It is available on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5-10 PM at 7th & Market Streets.

  • Free Shipping Promotion covered the cost of standard shipping for all online purchases made from participating Downtown Wilmington DE retailers.

To date, Main Street Wilmington has helped to build a better Downtown by:

  • Helping to create 1,800+ jobs

  • Restoring 53 building facades

  • Removing 28 roll down security gates

  • Providing grants to 72 businesses

“We are proud to recognize this year’s 889 nationally accredited Main Street programs that have worked tirelessly to advance economic vitality and quality of life in their downtowns and commercial districts,” said Patrice Frey, President & CEO of Main Street America. “During an incredibly challenging year, these programs demonstrated the power of the Main Street movement to drive impressive local recovery efforts, champion small businesses, and foster vibrant downtown districts. I am inspired by their hard work and confident that these accredited communities will continue to help their downtowns flourish in the next stages of recovery.”

We want your feedback: 2021 Downtown Benchmark Survey!

Copy of DTV_BenchmarkSurvey_2021_social.png

Downtown Visions want to hear from you! Please take a few moments to complete our 2021 Benchmark Survey so that we can better serve our Downtown Wilmington, DE community. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete.