Main Street Wilmington Grant Helps Urban Fork Bring New Energy to Market Street

Downtown Wilmington’s Market Street continues to welcome exciting new businesses, and Urban Fork, located at 201 N. Market Street, is a great example of how local entrepreneurs are helping bring new energy, investment, and activity to the city’s commercial district.

Downtown Visions, through its Main Street Wilmington program, recently awarded Urban Fork a $12,500 Façade Improvement Grant to help support the restaurant’s interior fit-out and signage. Made possible through the support of Comenity Bank, the investment helped transform a storefront that had been vacant for an extended period into an inviting new downtown dining destination.

Urban Fork is a Black-owned and female-owned business, led by owners Monica Thomas and Mekhi Green. Monica brought the concept to Wilmington after building a following in Philadelphia with Monz Crabby Dip, her catering and food truck business. At Urban Fork, that entrepreneurial spirit has evolved into a full-service restaurant featuring creative comfort food, seafood specialties, cocktails and brunch.

The restaurant has quickly attracted attention both locally and online. Urban Fork has developed a strong social media and marketing presence, with influencers helping introduce the restaurant and its distinctive dishes to new audiences. Out & About Magazine highlighted Urban Fork shortly after its opening, calling attention to menu items including Monz Signature Crabby Dip, lobster deviled eggs, seafood egg rolls and fried catfish po’boys. Delaware Online/The News Journal also featured Urban Fork among Delaware’s notable new restaurant openings.

For Downtown Visions and Main Street Wilmington, Urban Fork represents exactly the kind of small-business investment that can make a meaningful difference downtown: an entrepreneur taking a previously vacant space, investing in it, creating a destination and giving people another reason to visit Market Street.

The grant is part of Main Street Wilmington’s longstanding and successful Façade Improvement Program, and part of MSW’s broader effort to support downtown businesses, improve commercial properties and strengthen the vitality of Wilmington’s central business district.

Urban Fork
201 N. Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware

Visit Urban Fork to learn more about the restaurant, menu and hours.  https://www.eaturbanfork.com/

Downtown Visions Awarded Bardea a Main Street Wilmington Façade Improvement Grant for their Interior Fit-Out

A historic gem dating back to 1905, as the image below shows, 618 Market Street was a crowning jewel of Market Street. Most recently, The Buccini/Pollin Group and BPGS Construction restored the building from distress back to its former glory.

Restaurateur, Scott Stein and Chef Antimo DiMeo were interested in creating a one-of-a-kind dining experience within the building and Downtown Visions Main Street Program was thrilled to help. With support from Comenity Bank, Downtown Visions was able to provide $12,500 towards flooring, paint, ceiling tile and lighting for the recently opened yet already a neighborhood favorite, Bardea.

The restaurant features interpretive Italian cuisine utilizing ingredients from local Delaware Valley farms and purveyors, and features a number of composed dishes with both Italian and American origins. Bardea, pronounced bar-DAY-ah, is the Italian term for "the goddess of food and drink."

Curious on how Downtown Visions can help your entrepreneurial venture or new restaurant idea? Learn more about the Business Improvement District and Facade Improvement Program.

To become a sponsor of Downtown Visions Main Street Program and support entrepreneurial ventures and new businesses along the Market Street corridor, click here.

Special thanks to comenity for their generous support with this project.