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.

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:

• 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

FREE Parking in Downtown Wilmington DE

There are plenty of free parking options to accommodate residents and visitors, and with extended Curbside valet options taking a trip Downtown has never been easier!

You can continue to take advantage of FREE valet parking during Curbside Wilmington on Friday and Saturday nights through May 2021. The valet station is centrally located at the corner of 7th & Market Streets.

Downtown residents may park in any of the following Colonial Parking lots for a discounted rate as well! Starting May 1, 2021, they are offering a resident rate of $50.00/month on the surface lots located at 5th & Orange Street, 6th & Orange Street, and 7th & Orange Street, plus a $25/month rate at the 8th & West Street Lot. Contact Colonial directly at 302.651.3600 to take advantage of this offer!

Additionally, 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. Del-Tech is also providing free parking to support Lower Market Street businesses in Lot 4 on the Southwest Corner of 2nd & Shipley Streets through June 30, 2021. Please be advised that overnight parking in the Del-Tech lot is not permitted.

This public parking map is complete with maximum daily rates*, garage, and open lot locations as well as information on metered parking 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.

*Rates are subject to change without notice.

Open for Business in Downtown Wilmington DE

Downtown Wilmington DE is home to hundreds of small businesses ready to serve you! Use this directory to search what businesses are currently open for business.

As Delaware continues to safely ease restrictions and establishments return to more normal operations, please be sure to follow all City, State, and CDC guidelines, and check with businesses for additional safety precautions during your visit.

For help traveling to Downtown Wilmington DE during the ongoing I-95 construction, please visit www.restorethecorridor.com for up-to-date traffic information, an interactive map, and alternate routes. For information on parking in Downtown Wilmington DE, please click here.

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We rely on our small business community to create thriving neighborhoods for our residents and visitors every day. During this time of uncertainty, we need to do all we can to support these businesses, and their staff, by: dining in, ordering takeout, purchasing gift cards, following them on social media, spreading the word about their offers, or posting a positive review.

Please consider helping our small business owners and #ShopSmall during this crisis and always!

If you are looking for additional ways to support these businesses and help them bounce back from COVID-19, 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 for years to come.

New Resources for Small Business Relief & Recovery: January 2021

Downtown Visions is committed to helping our Downtown Wilmington DE establishments get back to business. A number of organizations have created funding opportunities in the wake of the pandemic to ensure our small businesses remain open for years to come. If you have any questions about which fund is right your businesses, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.

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DE Relief Grants Program has begun accepting new applications as of January 19th, 2020. This means that small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have not applied in earlier rounds will have the opportunity to apply for this relief program presented by the

For those who have already applied for the DE Relief Grants program, the Division of Small Business is continuing to process applications as quickly as possible.

Wilmington Strong Fund is still accepting applications for $1000 Grants! The Fund has provided in total $117,000 to Wilmington small businesses. The majority of grant funds have been distributed to low to moderate-income, minority-owned, and women-owned small businesses.

• 67% of awards went to minority business owners

• 51% went to women-owned businesses

• 83% of grant recipients have revenues less than $200,000

Economic Injury Disaster Loan deadline has been extended by the SBA to apply for a COVID-19 pandemic December 31, 2021.

Loans are offered at affordable terms, including a 3.75% interest rate for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profit organizations, a 30-year maturity, and an automatic deferment of one year before monthly payments begin. All eligible small businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to apply.

At Your Side Grant is a Small Business Grant Program providing grants of $5,000 to $10,000 on a competitive basis. The program will support brick-and-mortar small businesses in designated Main Street districts as they work to adapt to COVID-19 and prepare for the next phases of reopening across the country, while also helping to revitalize and strengthen older and historic commercial corridors.

Applications will open at 12pm on Thursday, January 21 and continue to be accepted through Thursday, January 28 at 7:59pm.

Ascent is a FREE learning program for Women entrepreneurs from the Small Business Administration. Women own or co-own 45% of all businesses in the United States. The majority are small, with great potential for growth in both revenues and job creation. That’s why the Small Business Administration has created Ascent and packed it with in-depth information to help you grow your business!

The Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce is proud to be the newest member of the National Black Chamber family! Joining the National Black Chambers will provide us with a platform to engage, educate and empower, established businesses, business owners, as well as future entrepreneurs. We will commit our resources of people, time, information and capital toward providing opportunities that create wealth and equity within our communities.

Minority Small Business Grants are an important source of money to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Grants to minority-owned businesses are key, not just to the businesses themselves, but to the overall economy. A recent analysis of Census Bureau data from 2017 showed barely 4 in 10 (41%) business owners were white males. Of the 30.5 million total business owners, 6.5 million were owned by men of color. To learn more about what grants are available for minority small business owner click on the link below.

Guide to women entrepreneurs on closing the gap. How to overcome obstacles as a female entrepreneur.

SCORE offers a list of startup resources as you learn what it takes to start a business or find a local mentor to help your business today.

Chamber of Commerce offers a free comprehensive Covid-19 reopening guide for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Included are guidelines and useful reopening resources.

Click to visit our previous blog with more small business assistance resources!

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Need help completing your loan applications?

The focus of the Delaware Small Business Development Center (DSBDC), is to develop and support entrepreneurship throughout the State of Delaware by free one-on-one counseling to understand their needs and assist them in a path forward. They offer free assistance to small businesses with business planning, financial services, marketing, and technology. To request a free session with a consultant from their Newark location, complete the form here.

True Access Capital offers free assistance to small businesses with their loan application package, business planning process, and follow-up services. This assistance helps prepare potential borrowers for the application/underwriting process and it helps existing borrowers remain sustainable, once the loan has been made. To learn more about True Access Capital’s Technical Assistance services, email ctymes@firststateloan.org or complete a Request for Counseling Form

Delaware SCORE has been mentoring new and existing businesses for over 50 years and has a network of over 40 volunteers who donate their time to help entrepreneurs start new or improve existing small businesses and non-profits. SCORE Delaware's 40+ volunteer counselors' combined experience and knowledge could match most Business School faculties. Browse mentor profiles to find your ideal expert. Request a Delaware SCORE mentor.