Downtown Visions Holiday Small Business Initiatives

Downtown Holiday Market at DE.CO

Downtown Visions is partnering with DE.CO to bring a Holiday Market to Downtown Wilmington. The Market will run Saturday, November 26, December 3, 10 & 17 from 11am-4pm.

Patrons can expect small business vendors, DE.CO food vendors, Holiday music and window displays, entertainment, appearances from Santa and kids’ characters, face painting and more!

Free Shipping

From 10/1/22 – 12/31/22, shop online with select Downtown Wilmington, DE retailers this Holiday season and receive free shipping anywhere in the U.S., courtesy of Downtown Visions. 

Participating Downtown Retailers:
Shoe Tech Shoe Repair

Spaceboy Clothing

Three Kings Kustoms

Town & Shore Handcrafted

Al’s Sporting Goods

LaFate Gallery

Morgan’s of Delaware

Poppycock Tattoo

12 Days of Christmas

Downtown Visions encourages residents, visitors, and workers to #ShopSmall this Holiday season. From 12/1/22 – 12/12/22, many Downtown small businesses will be offering discounts and specials on unique gifts.  For more information visit wilmingtonmade.com.

Downtown Wilmington App

Recently, Downtown Visions released the Downtown Wilmington App, a one-stop shop for almost everything about Downtown Wilmington, DE. The App was created for Downtown residents, workers, and visitors to highlight dining, entertainment, events, information, parking, shopping and more in Downtown Wilmington, DE.  

To download the App search Downtown Wilm DE in the App Store or Google Play.

Downtown Visions is the non-profit management company for Wilmington, DE’s Downtown Business Improvement District.  Its mission is to create, manage and promote a quality environment for people who live, work and visit Downtown Wilmington.  For more information visit downtownwilmingtonde.com.

Celebrating Black History Month in Wilmington, DE

Ernest Green Interview at the Wilmington Public Library

The month of February dedicates its 28 days to recognizing and celebrating African-Americans

and honoring their contributions to society. During the month, Downtown Wilmington

businesses are hosting special events to educate, remember, and celebrate African Americans’

achievements throughout history.

The Living Legend Series

The Wilmington Public Library is hosting The Living Legend series for Black History Month.

• Ernest Green | Feb 17 

  Ernest Green is one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African American students who, in

  1957, were the first black students ever to attend classes at the segregated Little Rock

  Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Green was the first African American to

  graduate from the school in 1958.

  Green’s interview will be with CNN Commentator Bakari Sellers.

• Pam Grier | Feb 23

  Actress Pam Grier is best known for her portrayal of tough and sexy crime fighters in the

  1970s genre of “blaxploitation” films such as ‘The Big Bird Cage’, ‘Coffy’, ‘Foxy Brown’

  and ‘Sheba Baby’. Her later work in the 1998 film Jackie Brown earned her a Golden

  Globe nomination. 

  Tonya Baynes will be moderating the conversation.

Clifford Brown Year Around  | Feb 18

Rekindle the love in your life this month with Clifford Brown Year Round! On 2/18 at the

new CSC Station, enjoy performances by Maya Belardo, Nadjah Nicole, Jea Street

(and many more!) as they answer the question “How Do You Sing Love?” Buy your

tickets today!

 A virtual link will be available for those who cannot attend in person.

The Negro Spiritual: An Afternoon Event at SsAM | Feb 19

These songs have become deeply embedded in American culture and modern faith, songs whose creators — often enslaved Black Americans — have gone largely unacknowledged, their names lost to time. Featuring the Wilmington Children’s Chorus and narrated by Bebe Coker.

Free parking in the church parking lot. Click here for directions.

The event will be live-streamed for those who cannot or choose not to attend in-person here at our church. Click here to view SsAM’s YouTube Channel.

A free-will offering will be collected from those attending.

LaFate Gallery: Black History Month Diverse Perspectives | Until Feb 26

Award Winning Folk Artist, Eunice LaFate presents a month-long exhibition called “Black History Month…Diverse Perspectives.” The exhibition features art representing a range of perspectives and moments in Black History.

Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11AM-5PM

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Local Black-owned Businesses

Take some time this month (and all year) to shop and eat at local Black owned businesses in Downtown Wilmington. Below are a list of Black-owned businesses you can help support! 

Amity Bistro | 209 N Market St

Opened in October of 2021, enjoy classic breakfast options and American favorites for lunch and dinner. You crave it, Amity Bistro will provide.

Artzscape | 205 N Market St

Artzscape is an innovative performance and event space for theater, music, comedy, poetry, art, and social events.

Evelyn’s Soul Food | 1409 N King St 

From breakfast to dinner, Evelyn’s Soul Food has you covered. Stop by and grab some delicious soul food that’ll keep your tummy happy all day long.

Green Box Kitchen | 400 N Market St & DECO

With the goal of making healthier eating uncomplicated and easily accessible, Green Box Kitchen offers cold pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls, buddha bowls and much more!

LaFate Gallery | 227 N Market St

Opened in 1993, LaFate Gallery presents a collection of contemporary, traditional, and folk art that reflect Caribbean and American landscapes.

Milk & Honey | 239 N Market St & 807 N Union St

A coffeehouse, gallery, and venue space, Milk & Honey is where the community gathers, and memorable events are held. Make sure to try their famous flat white and one of their many sandwich options.

Morgan’s of Delaware | 222 Delaware Ave

Dress to the nines with the help of Morgan’s of Delaware. The boutique carries a range of clothes and accessories fit for uptown elegance to downtown edge.

Tasties 302 | 825 N Market St

Tasties 302 offers a selection of mouth-watering soul food from southern fried chicken, beef short ribs, and their famous alfredo pasta. Dine-in and take-out options available. 

The Sold Firm | 800-B N Tatnall St

Founded in 2019, The Sold Firm features modern and contemporary emerging, talented visual artists. Their exhibits address a diverse range of cultural subject matters.

Reward Yourself By Dining Downtown

Start this year saving big with the Dine Downtown Deal! Save your receipts when dining-in or ordering takeout 5x at your favorite Downtown eatery between 1/1/2022 - 3/31/2022.  Once you have 5 receipts text Downtown Visions 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). It’s that easy! 

• 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.

Get cash back for dining at the Downtown restaurants you love. You even get to pick the Downtown business you want your gift card to!

Limitations May Apply:

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 from the restaurants are not valid. 

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. In case of a dispute, DTV has the final authority to decide what receipts are eligible. 

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 2022. 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.

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Wilmington Fire Department

Downtown Visions and the Downtown Wilmington DE community are proud to support the Wilmington Fire Department as they celebrate their 100th Anniversary.

There are several events happening throughout the City to honor these brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our communities everyday. This weekend you can visit all City Firehouses between 10am-4pm for an open house experience. On Thursday, October 14th from 5-9pm in the 800 block of Market Street come Downtown for some family friendly fun during Curbside Wilmington WFD Happy Hour. There will be 2 bands, Bickel Brothers and Calle Bere and The Attitude performing live, photo booth, free treats and crafts for the kids, Rocky Bluewinkle mascot, commemorative WFD pint glasses for the first 250 attendees and amazing food & drink specials.

Downtown Food & Drink Specials: *Offers valid on both dates, 10/14 & 10/23 unless specified.

• Chelsea Tavern – First Responders get 20% off your entire bill with valid work ID

• Stitch House Brewery - All First Responders receive 15% off of food with valid ID 

• Jimmy John’s – 20% off for first responders on orders in-store at the Market Street location. Must show valid work ID. 

• Cavanaugh’s – 25% off sandwiches, salads or entrees for WFD with valid ID (valid 10/14 only *during regular business hours 11am-3pm)

• Makers Alley – 20% off the entire bill for first responders with a valid ID. (valid 10/14 from 6pm-9pm and 10/23 from 3pm to close)

• DECO Food Hall – 20% off at the bar for first responders with valid ID. Plus enjoy specialty cocktails.

• Spaceboy Clothing – 10% off with valid WFD ID 

• LaFate Gallery – 50% off double matted limited edition prints for WFD with valid ID

On Saturday, October 23rd there will be a parade on King Street starting at 10am and afterwards you can head over to the Wilmington Riverfront for an antique apparatus display & firematic flea market and water fire/rescue boat display from noon to 4:00 PM. Then on Sunday join the Fire Department at Saint Elizabeth’s Church on Broom Street for a fire fighter memorial service at 3:00 PM. It’s going to be a great month of celebrations as we honor the Wilmington Fire Department. It all comes to a fabulous end on November 30th for the centennial banquet at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. This is a private, ticketed event but we bet it’s going to be one heck of a party!

Curbside Wilmington Happy Hour Returns to Market Street June 10th!

Join us on Thursday, June 10th, as we kick off Curbside Wilmington Happy Hour this summer!

At 5:00PM, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki will kick off the evening's festivities on the 800 block of N. Market Street. Immediately following will be a live performance by Aziza Nailah and her band!

Afterwards, from 6:00 - 9:00PM the 400 block of N. Market Street will be closed to traffic for the summer's first weekly Curbside Wilmington Happy Hour by Downtown Visions with live music by Too Tall Slim & The Guilty Pleasures, followed by DJ Chad spinning Nu Jazz& Soul on vinyl at The Knights Bar!

The best part? It’s completely FREE! Only Good Times (and Good Vibes) required!

This kickoff event is in collaboration with It's Time Wilmington, Gable Music Ventures, Downtown Visions and InWilmington. Thanks to support from JPMorgan Chase, we’ll work together to be bring the BEST outdoor dining and entertainment to Wilmington through the citywide campaign "It's Time To G.O.A.T. (Get Out Around Town)".

Following the event on June 10th, you’ll be able to enjoy live music every Thursday night this summer from 6-9 PM at various locations in Downtown Wilmington through Curbside Wilmington! Be sure to follow us on Facebook the most-to-date event information, including which bands are playing where.

It's Time to Live A Little - so come on down to Downtown Wilmington and join us as we dine al fresco and enjoy live music this Thursday!