Main Street Wilmington Program Receives 2021 Accreditation

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.”

Green Thumbs Rejoice a New Community Garden is Coming to Downtown Wilmington and Accepting Reservations for 2018!

Where a business once thrived, a new era for Downtown Wilmington will bloom!

Looking to grow your own produce right downtown? Residents look no further!

This is your opportunity to have your own garden just steps from your apartment or home at 4th and Orange Street in Downtown Wilmington, Delaware.  The brand new Fourth & Orange Community Garden is made possible with support from the Gross Family whose lighting business once occupied this lot and is a project by The Downtown Civic Association.

If you are interested in purchasing a plot at the rate of $40 per plot for the 2018 season, contact Pat Shay at pat.shay@comcast.net or 267.469.5882.

Other generous community sponsors include Downtown Visions, ResideBPG, City of Wilmington, Wohlsen Construction and Rave Realty Corporation.

*One plot will be available per person and per family at a first come, first serve basis. 

Feeding Minds, Bodies and Souls…Getting Deep with Jason Aviles of The Wilmington Green Box

Jason Aviles doesn't stop. From the Bronx, New York, he takes the word "entrepreneur" to an entire new level. From creating his own interdisciplinary Bachelors Degree in Youth Development & Social Change to running four businesses, he has some useful and touching advice for us all.

Learn more on how he went from a revamped Victorian push cart to revolutionizing healthy eating and nutrition in the City of Wilmington at 420 N Market Street at Wilmington Green Box.

Wilmington Green Box was made possible by funding from The Buccini/Pollin Group as well as funding and business development assistance from Main Street Wilmington. Inspired to start a business in Wilmington like Jason?  There are a variety of complimentary services Downtown Visions has to get you started. Click here to learn more.

Q. Where did the idea for the green box stem from?

A. “Born out of a void that we saw in the central Wilmington community of there not being access to healthy goods and produce. While looking for creative ways to fill this void, we wanted to develop a model that was a win, win, win. We wanted to do more…a creative strategy to help other challenged areas, such as youth education and employment. We felt like the local youth needed positive outlets that gave them not only experience but also employed them so they could contribute to their household income. We targeted inner city kids who could really benefit from the program. So the concept is influential in four areas, food access,  youth employment, education and purchasing local. We wanted to strengthen the local small business community economy.”

Q. How have you seen the box change the lives of individuals working for the company as well as customers?

A. “It has been transformational, Emmanuel is our poster child. He took Wilmington Green Box to a whole new level with his charisma, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. It has been a transformation for him to be with positive older male and female role models and interacting with customers on a daily basis helps build his social skills.

For our customers, we are not just selling a product. Our customers aren’t just buying a food, they are buying into a mission and an organization that really cares for the community and is giving directly back to the community. You feel good supporting youth, youth education and local food companies.”

Q. How has the Wilmington Green Box evolved since you just started out?

A. “We first started with a 1940’s ice box from a Victorian home. We put wheels on it, packed it with healthy goods and that’s how we started out. We didn’t have a storefront or space. We just brought the goods directly to people. It was a perfect introduction, we were able to get in front of so many individuals. Some didn’t know a carrot could make juice. We were educating people on how to be healthy. We also were able to educate our team on product knowledge. After a successful summer doing it that way;we saw we had a demand and we wanted to fulfill it in a consistent way. That’s how the location we are at now was born. The location on Market was designed to provide a place people could come to a consistent basis and activate a space that had not been utilized. We wanted to provide an additional green space and complimentary Wifi to the public. We looked at it as a solution for those we could serve and for us. We built the space and kiosk as an experience.”

Q. What do you see for the future of the green box?

A. “The future, I see us moving into an indoor location where we can have collaboration with a smoothie bar, café, and co-op style grocery store that can serve bulk health food that continues to serve local and bi-local markets. That is the direction we are going into.”

Q. What is your favorite food or drink served at the Green Box?

A. “It’s a tie…I would say, the fruit salads….they are really fresh and awesome from Sol Fruit, a great local organization. Alkaline state of mind from Juiced Libations is another favorite. It is a green juice that gets me going. I often end up eating a fruit salad and drinking one of those on busy days.”

Q. What are some of the challenges you have faced so far?

A. “A challenge is the education portion. Creating a culture and mindset of wellness. It hasn’t been on the forefront of initiatives. Locals aren’t aware of how to live a greater, quality life through nutrition. Exposing people on how to become healthy can be a challenge. We are motivated by it though, so it is not so much a challenge as it is an opportunity. This is the first concept of its kind here. We have seen incredible progress of people learning because of what we offer.”

Q. You wear a lot of hats, Project Director at Wilmington Green Box, Executive Director at Wilmington Placemakers Inc., Co-founder at Artist Ave Station and CEO at FLYOGI. How do you keep it all together and organized?

A. “At the foundation of everything I do is yoga. I was taught yoga is a lifestyle... how you treat others, yourself, nutrition. Everything I do is a part of my practice. The businesses I engage in are an extension of myself. Looking at the voids that exist and trying to fulfill them. I’m not doing it alone, it is a team of us. I have a wonderful team, John Naughton , James Thompson and Emmanuel are equally contributing. When I’m stressed out, I lean on them. We all lean on each other. Our team is on the same page.”

Q. How are you able to remain so Zen? Is it all that yoga?

A. “Yes. Everything really is a practice. It is a constant growing process.”

Q. What is your favorite aspect of the City of Wilmington?

A. “My favorite aspect is the growth that is happening. Wilmington is a growing place. It is in that threshold and it is exciting to be a part of. It is good to know not everything has happened yet. Those are our opportunities to fill those gaps. That is why I chose Wilmington. I wanted to contribute to that.”

Q. What advice would you give to entrepreneur wanting to start a business in downtown Wilmington?

A. “I would say, know what you want and know who wants it. Downtown Wilmington is a market that is used to doing what it is used to doing. You have to know the market and who you want to serve. You have to be consistent and offer high quality products and services. Make sure you know how to market. You are going to have to spend a lot of time marketing. Everyone here is a creature of habit. Introducing new things, you have to have creative ways to put it in front of them.”

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Post by Julia Mason of Enthusiasm Lab