Over 112,441 Votes Reveal Several Statewide Favorites on Market Street in Wilmington, DE

Over 19,000 people participating and casting 112,441 votes in Delaware Online's Readers' Choice competition revealed four statewide favorite businesses are located right along Market Street within a few blocks of each other. Voting was open for five weeks and ended on August 24th. 

If you haven’t yet been to these establishments, its time to make a visit, these businesses are near and dear to Delawarean hearts.

Wright & Simon 911 N Market Street Wilmington, DE 19801

The Queen 500 N Market Street Wilmington, DE 19801

Photo Credit: Moonloop Photography

Brew HAHA! 824 N Market Street Wilmington, DE 19801

Photo Credit: Brew HAHA!

Al’s Sporting Goods 200 N Market Street Wilmington, DE 19801

Photo Credit: Foursquare.com

Downtown Wilmington, Delaware Merchant Meeting Recap

For those that were not able to attend our last merchant meeting here is what you missed.  We hope you can join us at our next meeting on Monday, October 22, 2018 at 9AM - The Living Room, (previously Jerry’s Artarama) 706 N. Market Street.

Speaker:

Denita L. Thomas: SBDC, Associate State Director

dlthomas@udel.edu 
302-831-077

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) https://delawaresbdc.org/

• SBDC is an organization that helps small businesses do an anything they need to grow and succeed.

• All services are FREE

• Goal is to promote job growth

• 500 employees or less is considered a small business

  • Only small businesses are eligible to use their resources

• Free 1 on 1 advising and technical assistance

• Provide loan packaging

• Provide help with business planning and help researching the market

  • Link to planning: https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/planning-and-financing/

• SBDC has access to data bases that most small business do not have that can be used in market research

  • Link to research: https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/business-info-and-research/

• Provide information and programs on cyber security  for small business

  • make sure business is prepared/map out a strategy

• Grow Delaware Fund is partnership organization that allows for business who use SBDC  programs to have longer loan terms, lower interest rates

  • https://growdelawarefund.org/

• Horn program- focused on staff and faculty

  • https://www.udel.edu/research-innovation/horn/

• SCORE- managing to succeed program(for established businesses)

  • Link to SCORE: https://www.score.org/

  • Fanatical analysis and review

  • Benchmark ratings

  • Key performance incentives

  • Idea is that SCORE is a launch pad for new business and new concepts

• Free resources available: SBDC, Women’s Business Center, SCORE 

  • https://www.score.org/

  • https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/business-info-and-research/

  • https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/planning-and-financing/

  • http://firststateloan.org/womens-business-center/

• Applications are now being accepted for Delaware Startup Launchpad 2018 

  • the four-week, four-session mini accelerator from the Delaware Founders Initiative, Delaware Small Business Development Center and the University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship program — returns for the second time this October, and applications are now open.

  • https://www.tfaforms.com/4686422

Small Business Saturday: November 24, 2018

• https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/

• National Effort to promote Small Business Saturday and shopping small

• Learn about Small business Saturday: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/about?linknav=us-open-shopsmall-home-nationallanding-sbshistory

• You can connect directly to  Amex to help attract customers all year long

  • Marketing Materials: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/promote

• Send your Small Business Saturday deals & promotions to lschweiger@downtownvisions.org

Top 10 Instagrammable Places in Wilmington, Delaware

Photo Credit: Moonloop Photography

Toss those travel books aside…below are some of the top favorites along the Market Street corridor according to Instagram! Be sure to add them to your destination list when visiting the Greater Brandywine Valley.

La Fia 421 N Market Street Wilmington DE

Photo Credit: @lafiabistro

Bardea 620 N Market Street Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: @bardeawilmington

Wilmington Green Box: 420 N Market Street Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: @wilmingtongreenbox

Market Street Bakery & Cafe 823 N Market Street Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: @market_street_bread_bagel

Brew HAHA! 824 N Market Street Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: @rievictoriaaoki

Rodney Square 1100 N Market Street Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: @decowilmington

HOTEL DU PONT 42 W 11th Street Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: @karenellenmills

Queen 500 N Market Street Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: @queenwilmington

The Grand Opera House 818 N Market Street Wilmington DE

Photo Credit: @thegrandwilm

WilminGO Golf Cart Taxi Service (Location Varies)

Photo Credit: @wilmingoride

Celebrate a Gallery that has brought the entire Community Together! It is LaFate Gallery's Third Anniversary!

A Limited Edition Print, available online at www.lafategallery.com

Join us in celebrating the third anniversary of LaFate Gallery, a space that has inspired, educated and most importantly, celebrated the beauty of cultural diversity.

Located within the LOMA district at 227 N Market St, LaFate Gallery has become a community staple, providing workshops, painting classes and art for purchase. Within the three years of the gallery's existence Eunice LaFate, owner of the shop has impacted hundreds of lives with her bubbly personality and gift of creativity.

 LaFate has immersed herself in teaching and helping people of all ages and races, which is why her creative spirit shows itself in folk art that emphasizes the beauty of human diversity and the importance of cultural heritage. 

Her anniversary art sale on September 30th from 1-6 PM will be a benefit show featuring 25% off all original paintings. Attendees are requested to register at eunicelafate@gmail.com 

7 Unexpected Coffeehouse Beverages in Wilmington, DE

Up and down the Market Street corridor, coffee houses are plentiful. Between 2nd and 10th street there are at least four on Market Street alone to serve the rising resident and worker base within the city. The best part, these are not all your ordinary chain coffeehouses...they are unique, homegrown and have a little something to suit everyone's tastes. 

 LOMA Coffee 239 N Market Street Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: LOMA Coffee

If you are dairy-free or vegan, an Oat-milk Latte from LOMA Coffee is calling your name. Oat milk is a dairy alternative that measures up to the creaminess of milk products. LOMA is known for their neighborhood friendly vibe as well as their breakfast, salads, sandwiches and most-recently, smoothies. 

Photo Credit: @genesis_dorsey

Another LOMA delight, if you need a dessert and are craving chocolate on a hot summer day, check out their Frozen Hot Chocolate for a sweet and cool treat! 

Have you heard of an Affogato? We hadn't either...but if it tastes as good as it looks we are down to try it! Above, from LOMA Coffee, an Affogato consisting of premium vanilla ice cream, a doubleshot of espresso and your choice of toppings. It's make your own sundae, adult style! 

Coffee Mode 919 N Market Street Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: Coffee Mode

Coffee Mode is focused intensely on the quality of their coffee and various offerings. Coffee Mode's Elixer Coffee took 6th place at the Coffee Champs competition in the capital of coffee, Seattle, Washington. Even if you are not a coffee fan and Kombucha is more your jam, Coffee Mode is constantly switching up what they have on tap. 

Brew HaHa! 823 N Market Street Wilmington, DE

Photo Credit: Brew HaHa! 

Voted Best of Delaware for a good reason, and inspired by the premier espresso bars of Italy, Brew HaHa!'s series of unique cafes across the Brandywine Valley offer coffee lovers a boutique experience, where every drink is special and individualized attention is paid every step of the way. Above, a Rose Latte is just as luxurious tasting as it sounds. 

Photo Credit: Brew HaHa! 

Matcha Much? When you drink Matcha you are ingesting the whole tea leaf which in recent studies has shown more health benefits than your typical green tea. This beverage above, a Matcha Milkshake is the perfect harmony of health conscious and sweet dessert.