Dine Downtown Deal

What is it?

Support Downtown Wilmington DE eateries and you’ll get rewarded! Dine-in or take out 5x between 1/1/24 and 3/31/24 and receive a gift card in the amount of 20% of the total meals purchased (before tip) to the business of your choice in the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District (WDBID).

How does it work?   

Dine-in OR takeout at any restaurant within Wilmington’s Downtown Business Improvement District (*see map) between 1/1/24 and 3/31/24. 

• Take a photo of your receipt

• Send it with your name, dining location, and date

• To Downtown Visions (DTV) via text message at 302-502-6003.  

We will keep track of your purchases and when five (5) valid Downtown restaurant receipts are submitted, DTV will contact you to process your earned gift card (20% of total meals, before tip) and inquire as to which Downtown business you want your gift card to and we will mail your gift card! It is that simple! You get cash back for dining at the Downtown restaurants you love. 

When?  

The Dine Downtown Deal initiative program will run from 1/1/24 – 3/31/24, and gift card prizes will be valid for 2024. 

Click here for a list of participating Restaurants. Scroll down to the ‘Food & Drink’ section.

What’s the Fine Print?

Only genuine receipts from eateries within the official boundaries of the Wilmington’s Downtown Business Improvement District (WDBID) are eligible for the Dine Downtown Deal (see map).  An eatery is defined as a business whose primary purpose is to prepare and serve food to the general public in sit-down or take-out form. Businesses that sell food products as a secondary function are not eligible as receipt sources. Receipts must be for dine-in or takeout. Gift cards or merchandise purchases from the restaurants are not valid. Gift cards cannot be used towards the purchase of DDD receipts submitted.

Limit of 2 gift cards per participant. You cannot submit more than one receipt from the same location on the same day. The receipts must be legible and submitted along with the customer name, dining location, and the date of the meal.  An online survey must be completed in order to receive your gift card(s). In case of a dispute, DTV has the final authority to decide what receipts are eligible. All receipts must be submitted by April 30, 2024.

Cashback gift cards are limited to 20% of the total of the five (5) valid receipts submitted (before tip) or up to $100 and may be issued to any business located within the WDBID for use in 2024. A total of five (5) receipts must be submitted in order to be eligible for a gift card. Partial submittals have no cash value. Gift cards will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds are exhausted. Employees of DTV are excluded from the program.

Business Improvement District

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are areas in which property owners pay an assessment, in addition to property taxes, to fund cleaning, security and marketing services. These services supplement those provided by City government. BIDs have been proven to help in reducing crime and to spark increased retail activity. Cleaner streets and sidewalks help this process.

Funding for Wilmington’s BID is provided primarily by property owners who pay an annual assessment directly to Downtown Visions based on their property tax assessments. Other sources for the operating budget come from proceeds from our for-profit subsidiary, Clean & Safe Services, Inc.

The properties with the top 10% (highest) assessed values pay approximately 80% of the overall assessments

BID ASSESSMENT FAQS

How is my assessment calculated?

Assessments are based on the following formula: Per $100 of New Castle County assessed value x .3770 = total assessment. To find out the assessed value of your property, contact the New Castle County Department of Land Use at 302-395-5400 or visit www.nccde.org.

When are assessment bills mailed?

Annual assessment bills are mailed late-June.

When is my assessment due?

Your bill runs from July 1 through June 30 and is due July 31.

Where do I mail my payment?

WDBID Management Company
(DBA) Downtown Visions
P.O. Box 71271
Philadelphia, PA 19176-6271

Can I pay my bill in person?

Yes. Bills may also be paid in person at Downtown Visions headquarters between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at 409 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

What if I have questions about my bill?
For questions about your assessment bill, please contact Loshawn Maxwell at
(302) 425-4200 ext. 105.

Façade Improvement Program

Within the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District, a block-by-block inventory done by Downtown Visions in 2009 showed that 78% of the buildings would benefit from improved façade treatments, in order to improve their appeal and, in many cases, preserve key historic features. The external appearance of a commercial or retail building is a major factor in attracting potential customers. Statistics from the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Center show that for every $1 invested in façade improvements, $18 resulted in increased Downtown business in 2012.

Since 2010, Downtown Visions’ Main Street Wilmington Program has completed seventy five (75) building projects and awarded approximately $810,000 in grants towards the restoration of buildings within Downtown Wilmington. These building projects included the removal of twenty eight (28) exterior roll down security gates, fifty eight (58) new business signs or awnings, new exterior lights in a dark block, the lighting of the Grand Opera House, the repainting of an entire block of buildings, and the complete restoration of fifty six (56) building facades. These improvements directly resulted in several new business openings as well as improving the revenues through visual appeal of forty three (43) existing businesses. This has inspired private owners of neglected buildings to join into the movement to revitalize downtown investing their own funds without the need for public subsidy. Both public and private investment has increased dramatically with the creation of the Downtown Development District administered through the Delaware State Housing Authority and private investment by companies like the Buccini/Pollin Group.

A walk down Market Street proves that our Main Street Wilmington Program has been incredibly successful in the restoration of the once hidden and neglected historic character. The program has inspired others to become partners and new businesses to call Downtown Wilmington their home. It is our intent to continue this needed program along the 9th Street corridor and the side streets connecting with Market Street.

As a part of the Façade Improvement Program the Security Gate Removal Project is designed to not only restore the visual aspects of the buildings, but to also improve the perception of safety in the downtown. External roll down security gates have a negative psychological impact especially on visitors during the evening hours. Because current City Code does not forbid the use of these gates we have felt the need to offer 100% funding towards the removal. To reduce our costs we have managed the project internally and contracted directly with vendors. All grants awarded are for physical improvements and do not go towards soft costs. Since 2012 we managed the removal of 28 external roll down security gates.  Each has expressed interest in doing residential on the upper floors of their properties. The ability to do multiple buildings yielded substantial savings and increased productivity.

Downtown Visions staff oversee the entire project from beginning to end. Grants are offered on a matching basis up to $10,000 per façade improvement.  Gate removal reimbursement up to $10,000 for the removal of an external security gate and installation of a new, interior security gate or shatter-proof glass. Interior fit-out grant funding reimbursement is available up to $10,000 on permanently affixed items and $2,500 for reimbursement grants for awnings or signage.

Many of the vacant or available locations even in prominent locations do not meet current code requirements and the market lease rate is not sufficient to cover the investment needed by the property owner. This cost becomes the burden of the new business which makes the location cost prohibitive. Even with these investments there remain significant gaps in affordable housing opportunities within Downtown Wilmington, both in physical separation between locations and in the ability for individual property owners to finance.

Downtown Visions Main Street Program is currently doing a complete comprehensive inventory of every building within the Business Improvement District (BID). This analysis first will primarily focus on vacant buildings and those with vacant upper floors or underutilized. Each will be evaluated as to square footage, number and size of apartments, condos or commercial units.

Our nationally renowned Main Street Program is designed to help you find the right location, guide you through the process of opening your business, and even find grants and/or funding to help you get started.

Contact Main Street Wilmington, Program Director, Lani Schweiger at lschweiger@downtownvisions.org 

Downtown Parking

PARKING IN DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON, DE

If you’ve ever questioned where to park in Downtown Wilmington DE, look no further! There are plenty of parking options to accommodate residents and visitors. Taking a trip Downtown has never been easier!

PUBLIC PARKING

This public parking map is complete with maximum daily rates*, garages, and open lot locations so your next trip into Wilmington, DE is easy breezy. Special thanks to Colonial Parking, Wilmington Parking Authority, SP+, Downtown Visions, and The City of Wilmington, DE for compiling this information.

Download the Downtown Wilm DE app in the app store for parking information, including a parking directory listing of garages and surface lots.

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.

For more information on parking in Downtown Wilmington DE, click here.

*Rates are subject to change without notice.

FREE CUSTOMER PARKING at select RESTAURANTS

Enjoy complimentary 3-Hour Customer Parking at the following restaurants:

• Chelsea Tavern

• Stitch House Brewery

• DECO Food Hall

• Wilma’s

• Makers Alley.

Park at Midtown Garage located at 200 W. 9th Street. Register your vehicle upon entering, scan the QR code upon arriving at the participating restaurants and enjoy! See server for details.
Brought to you by Downtown Visions

FREE CUSTOMER PARKING IN LOMA

Looking for customer parking in the 2nd & LOMA area!? Thanks to Delaware Technical Community College for offering FREE weekend parking at lot #4 on the corner of 2nd & Orange Streets from Friday evening through midnight Monday.

Please be advised that overnight parking in the Del Tech lot #4 is not permitted. Violators will be subject to towing.

Photo Credit: wilmingtonde.gov

Main Street Wilmington Program

Main Street®

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to save America's historic places. One of its movements is Main Street®, which is 1) a proven strategy for revitalization; 2) a powerful network of linked communities; and 3) a national support program that leads the field. 

The Downtown Wilmington Main Street® mission is to preserve, promote and enhance the BID through the elements of organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring. Everyone has a stake in a revitalized downtown.

By bringing these groups (small businesses, large corporations & property owners, government, residents & consumers, civic organizations & schools, preservationists & social service agencies), we seek to transform ideas into action for a better downtown, and to foster a spirit of community teamwork to strengthen, revitalize and broaden the economic base.

More about Main Street America® →

Building a better downtown

• Helping to create 1,800+ jobs

• Restored 53 building facades

• Removed 28 roll down security gates

• Grants to 72 businesses

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Our Main Street Wilmington Program is creating jobs by restoring buildings and bringing new businesses to Downtown. Over 194 New Businesses since 2010!

Our job is to create, manage and produce a quality environment for people who live, work and visit Downtown through our community-driven Main Street program. The program is built to support economic growth, urban revitalization and the creation of new jobs. From facade improvement to grand opening events and empowering business community connections — we are investing in your Downtown business community.

Back in March of 2006, Wilmington Mayor James Baker initiated the process of researching the feasibility of starting a "Main Street" program as part of an overall plan to revitalize the City. The result was the formation of a Main Street Steering Committee, a cooperative team of representatives from Downtown Visions, the Downtown Business Association, the City's Office of Economic Development and Wilmington City Council. After many months of meeting and planning, the Main Street Initiative here in Wilmington is in its 12th year.

Spearheaded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a leading advocate for the historic preservation, and Main Street America®, Main Street is a proven community-driven, comprehensive methodology used to revitalize older, traditional business districts throughout the United States. The underlying premise is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation. Main Street advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, pedestrian friendly environment, personal service, and a sense of community.

The Main Street Four-Point Approach is a comprehensive strategy that encompasses four distinct areas: Design, Organization, Promotion and Economic Restructuring. Volunteer-driven committees under each of those areas will be working hard to move the program's initiatives along, forming an effective tool for community-based, grassroots revitalization.

The strategy of any Downtown Visions Main Street Wilmington Program is always comprehensive and incremental, understanding that at times more emphasis needs to be placed in certain areas. Having achieved dramatic visual improvements along Market Street through our Facade Improvement Program & Security Gate Removal Project where we managed each property’s revitalization from beginning to end we have gained the respect and credibility with the property owners and businesses we are now able to engage them further. In the past they would simply say no to any programs they felt came from the City. Now they are eager participants.

Our strategy is basic business;

1. Make the outside of the business appealing

2. Enable the consumer to find the business in the manner consumer's search today — web & mobile

3. Guide the business towards being what the consumer seeks

4. Recruit businesses that create a mix that consumers both need and desire

5. Tell the story, not through just advertising, rather through engaging conversation through published stories, networking & social media.

The programs and processes we have set in each of our programs are tested, true and are becoming models now for other cities.

We have succeeded! Yet there is so much more to do. No one who visits Downtown Wilmington says it is ugly and dirty. In fact, we constantly receive praise for the dramatic improvements. Now is the time to concentrate on improving the businesses. Engage their potential customers enabling them to be aware the business exists while helping the business to improve their interior and exterior appearance, products, services and marketing. This is the only way to increase their sales and bottom line, which will in turn prompt them to hire more employees, which in turn will create jobs for the community. Most of the jobs created will be entry level which is exactly what is missing for the citizens of Wilmington. Where did you have your first job? I’ll bet it was a small business. Just imagine if each of the over 300 businesses in Downtown Wilmington hired just one person. And it doesn’t stop there…

To date all grants received for programs and projects by Main Street Wilmington have been used for capital improvements to buildings, retail recruitment and job creation. No funds have been used for administration or staffing costs.