Downtown Visions released the Downtown Wilmington App, a one stop shop for all the happenings in Downtown Wilmington, DE.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we reached out to two notable women in Downtown Wilmington who have contributed to the vibrancy and enhancement of our community. Jean Dahlgren, President of Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) and Eunice LaFate, artist and owner of LaFate Gallery, reflect on their journeys to joining the Downtown community.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
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!
Opened in October of 2021, enjoy classic breakfast options and American favorites for lunch and dinner. You crave it, Amity Bistro will provide.
Artzscape is an innovative performance and event space for theater, music, comedy, poetry, art, and social events.
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.
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!
Opened in 1993, LaFate Gallery presents a collection of contemporary, traditional, and folk art that reflect Caribbean and American landscapes.
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.
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 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.
Founded in 2019, The Sold Firm features modern and contemporary emerging, talented visual artists. Their exhibits address a diverse range of cultural subject matters.
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:
Amity Bistro | 209 N. Market St
ApeXX Bar & Grill | 921 Orange St.
Circa7 | 205 W. 14th St.
Currie Salon | 111 W. 10th St.
Curve Nutrition | 113 W. 8th St.
DE Slider Co. | 204 W. 10th St.
Dorcea | 1314 Washington St.
Humble Fabrics | 306 N. Shipley St.
Le Cavalier at the Green Room | Hotel DuPont
Lux Smoke | 710 N. Market St.
Milk & Honey Cafe | 239 N. Market St.
MKT The Cooper | 212 N. Market St.
Nail’d by Londyn | 231 N. Market St.
Rosenfeld’s Deli | 1204 N. Washington St.
Savoy Gourmet Food | 909 N. Orange St.
Tasties 302 | 825 N. Market St.
The Sold Firm | 800 N. Tatnall St.
Town & Shore Handcrafted | 221 N. Market St.
Wilma’s | 902 N. Market St.
101 Dupont Place | 1007 N. Market St.
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
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.
Q. How did Downtown Visions begin?
A. “In 1993 a group of individuals got together from the corporations because they saw the City was struggling because retail had dramatically changed. People went to the mall or shopping plazas to get what they needed. Historically, when Downtown Wilmington was booming it was an epicenter of retail shops-now it needed a new position. I saw the restaurants and the arts as strengths and destinations for the city. Places like A.R. Morris, Govatos and Als were the only remaining retailers on Market Street. I knew if we could make it a welcoming, clean, safe place it would turn a corner. Back then there were around 12 Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) in the U.S. and Wilmington, DE was one of them. Now there are around 2,000. I left the police department in November of 1994 and needed to train the first set of Safety Ambassadors by Christmas. It was a tough, but I did it and our team of ambassadors immediately made an impact. From then on, crime decreased within the BID. That was the first step. So much more came following.”
Q. What is your proudest moment here at Downtown Visions?
A. “There have been many, from training and hiring the first set of Safety Ambassadors to installing our video surveillance cameras which was a model for Homeland Security in 2001. The video surveillance program grew from there. Where the Downtown Farmers Market is today has also been incredibly meaningful. In the height of the season between 10 and 2 PM on a Wednesday in the summer 5,000 people visit the Market. Watching the Main Street Program help entrepreneurs and small businesses set roots downtown has also been rewarding.”
Q. What do you believe has been Downtown Visions greatest impact on the local community?
A. “Providing a safe and clean environment downtown that has made it easier for developers, restaurants and retailers to come downtown, being a catalyst for economic development.”
Q. What services do you think individuals are not aware of that Downtown Visions offers?
A.”Many people don’t realize we offer a Safety Escort Service that is completely free. We also have Facade Improvement Programs and grants for new businesses. Sometimes it is the little things that make a big difference. Our Cleaning Ambassadors are removing graffiti, posters, stickers, leaves and constantly emptying the trash bins downtown.”
Q. How has the BID improved over the years?
A.”It has dramatically changed through the developers that have been willing to invest Downtown. Groups like The Buccini/Pollin Group that have created residential buildings. With a critical mass of residents, we are now a 24 hour downtown and a true community. The area today is vibrant with arts, residential, entertainment and retail.”
Q. What differences do you see in the Business Improvement District in 2020?
A.”We will continue to see a community of people that live, work and play downtown.”
Q. What is your favorite Downtown Visions annual event?
A. “The Farmer’s Market in Rodney Square. It brings associates out of their buildings and gives them a chance to not only enjoy the market, but also see all of the positive things happening downtown.”
A Gallery Showcasing the roots of Downtown Visions:
