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

Signs of Progress in Downtown Wilmington DE

Downtown Wilmington DE has seen a lot of growth this year. There are changes happening throughout the Downtown, including new construction and the opening of small businesses. Although there have been challenging times for our business community, we continue to persevere and bring innovative initiatives to support the Downtown like Curbside Wilmington and our Free Shipping program that is now offering free shipping with participating Downtown retailers.

Please continue to support our local businesses by dining Downtown, shopping in-store or online with free shipping, buying gift cards and continuing to use services provided by our small businesses. When you shop small you’re not just supporting your neighborhood favorites - you’re investing in your community.

New Openings

AMITY BISTRO | 231 N MARKET ST

Open now in the LOMA area, Amity Bistro started with the simple idea of bringing the best food and entertainment. From their founder to the front-line workers, they put lots of love and careful thought into all they do.

ARTZSCAPE | 223 N MARKET ST

ArtzScape now has a second location on Market Street to bring you more events happening Downtown. They offer an innovative performance and event space for those that prefer an intimate setting. ArtzScape is black owned and operated, providing artistic events, shop small days, private functions, conferences and more.

CIRCA 7 | 205 W 14th ST

Clothing focused on mental health and living perfect moments. Spreading mental health awareness through art, fashion, and community events. Shop Small with Circa 7 online and receive free shipping through December 31st or check out their new shop and remember #theworldneedsyou.

DE SLIDERS CO. | 204 W 10th ST

DE Slider Co. is a unique approach to your classic favorite burger joint. Offering a mouthwatering array of sliders and delicious sides. Their recipes are specially curated, everything is made from scratch and the ingredients are locally sourced. Great food brings people together, and that is the whole mission that has brought DE Slider Co. to life.

Freakishly awesome | 825 N Tatnall ST

A barber shop unlike any other offering top notch service , custom designs, a creative art space and clothing. It’s just a vibe so check them out and live Freakishly Awesome!

Humble fabrics | 306 N shipley st

Looking for material to make a new outfit or trim to embellish your favorite garment? Humble Fabrics is open 7 days a week and specializes in high-quality fabrics and trims . Schedule your fitting with their in-store seamstresses for alterations or custom pieces today.

NAIL’D BY LONDON | 231 n market ST

More than just a nail studio, this creative space for self-care and tranquility allows every customer to experience top-notch treatment. Whether you are interested in a classic look or unique designs, Nail’d by Londyn offers exquisite ambiance & unmatched customer service.

Reopenings

GIRARD Craft and Cork | 224 W 9TH ST

Girard Craft & Cork is back! Stop by their new storefront on 9th Street to shop this one-stop spirits destination built for those with a taste for finer things, a love for local treasures and a strong sense of community.

THE GRAND | 818 n Market ST

We couldn’t be happier to have The Grand open! After closing their doors during the pandemic they are back and better than ever with concerts, comedy shows, live entertainment and more! The Grand is a celebrating 150 years this December as one of the region’s premier performing arts presenters. It sounds like the perfect time to buy show tickets for you or as the perfect holiday gift.

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.”

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.