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.

9th Mile Galleria Event Center Awarded a Façade Grant of $8,025 through The Downtown Visions Main Street Façade Improvement Program

Through the Downtown Visions Main Street Façade Improvement Program the owner of 9th Mile Galleria located at 603 N Market Street was awarded a façade grant for $8,025.

The grant went towards both his front and back façade which included masonry, stucco, addressing concrete issues, structural framing, new doors, new transom, steel lintels, windows, trim  and exterior paint.

Interested in learning how Downtown Visions Main Street Program can help your business? Click here to learn more.

9th Mile Galleria is a state-of-the-art event center and banquet facility with a maximum occupancy of 100, with comfortable seating for 65. The venue hosts a variety of social events including birthday parties, graduations, bridal showers, baby showers, office parties, fundraisers, meetings, reunions, conventions, art shows, fashion shows, comedy shows, live shows, and events that occur on a recurring basis.

To reserve 9th Mile Galleria for your next event, call 215-356-8717 or visit  www.9thmilegalleria.com.

Creating a Legacy- Martin Hageman is Proud of the Vision that Has Become Reality in Wilmington, DE

When one hears “Downtown Visions” they may think of the friendly folks in yellow that are safety ambassadors downtown, or the cleaning ambassadors keeping everything tidy in the city, but what they may not realize is that is only the tip of the ice-burg when it comes to all of the services Downtown Visions provides.

Downtown Visions Executive Director, Martin Hageman explains how it all began and how thrilled he is to be able to tell his grandchildren that he was a part of the helping hands that made Wilmington, DE what it is today.

Q. How did Downtown Visions begin?

A. “In 1993 a group of individuals got together from the corporations because they saw the City was struggling because retail had dramatically changed. People went to the mall or shopping plazas to get what they needed. Historically, when Downtown Wilmington was booming it was an epicenter of retail shops-now it needed a new position. I saw the restaurants and the arts as strengths and destinations for the city. Places like A.R. Morris, Govatos and Als were the only remaining retailers on Market Street. I knew if we could make it a welcoming, clean, safe place it would turn a corner. Back then there were around 12 Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) in the U.S. and Wilmington, DE was one of them. Now there are around 2,000. I left the police department in November of 1994 and needed to train the first set of Safety Ambassadors by Christmas. It was a tough, but I did it and our team of ambassadors immediately made an impact. From then on, crime decreased within the BID. That was the first step. So much more came following.”

Q. What is your proudest moment here at Downtown Visions?

A. “There have been many, from training and hiring the first set of Safety Ambassadors to installing our video surveillance cameras which was a model for Homeland Security in 2001. The video surveillance program grew from there. Where the Downtown Farmers Market is today has also been incredibly meaningful. In the height of the season between 10 and 2 PM on a Wednesday in the summer 5,000 people visit the Market. Watching the Main Street Program help entrepreneurs and small businesses set roots downtown has also been rewarding.”

Q. What do you believe has been Downtown Visions greatest impact on the local community?

A. “Providing a safe and clean environment downtown that has made it easier for developers, restaurants and retailers to come downtown, being a catalyst for economic development.”

Q. What services do you think individuals are not aware of that Downtown Visions offers?

A.”Many people don’t realize we offer a Safety Escort Service that is completely free. We also have Facade Improvement Programs and grants for new businesses. Sometimes it is the little things that make a big difference. Our Cleaning Ambassadors are removing graffiti, posters, stickers, leaves and constantly emptying the trash bins downtown.”

Q. How has the BID improved over the years?

A.”It has dramatically changed through the developers that have been willing to invest Downtown. Groups like The Buccini/Pollin Group that have created residential buildings. With a critical mass of residents, we are now a 24 hour downtown and a true community. The area today is vibrant with arts, residential, entertainment and retail.”

Q. What differences do you see in the Business Improvement District in 2020?

A.”We will continue to see a community of people that live, work and play downtown.”

Q. What is your favorite Downtown Visions annual event?

A. “The Farmer’s Market in Rodney Square. It brings associates out of their buildings and gives them a chance to not only enjoy the market, but also see all of the positive things happening downtown.”

A Gallery Showcasing the roots of Downtown Visions:

Learn from Successful Entrepreneurs at Delaware Libraries!

Locations:

All the workshops are available simultaneously using their video conferencing system at the six participating libraries:

• Bear Public Library, 101 Governors Pl, Bear, DE 19701

• Dover Public Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover, DE 19901

• Georgetown Public Library, 123 W. Pine Street, Georgetown, DE 19947

• Milton Public Library, 121 Union St, Milton, DE 19968

• Wilmington Public Library, 10 & Market Streets, Wilmington, DE 19801

• Woodlawn Public Library, 2020 W 9th St, Wilmington, DE 19805

 *There is an anomaly that the October 18 workshop: So, You Want to be an Entrepreneur will not be available at Georgetown and Milton due to a county-wide library staff training session that will close all the Sussex County libraries.

Maintain Your Sanity Through Your Workday!
October 11, 10:30 AM - 12:00 pm 

Take a few deep breaths while you practice some efficient and effective mental hygiene exercises to make the quick mental adjustment that will maintain your sanity through the ups and downs of the typical workday. Identify the state of mind that offers you the power, ease and freedom to be at your best and learn how to make it your default setting. Whether you regularly practice meditation or are a beginner, tips from Mia Muratori, MFA, RTA, Behavioral Dynamics Consultant will help you maintain your meditation muscle to improve your day. 


So, You Want to be an Entrepreneur 
 October 18, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
(Georgetown and Milton Libraries closed)

This introduction to small business ownership is part of the series SCORE at the Inspiration Space to assist aspiring entrepreneurs anticipating the start of a new venture. SCORE volunteer, Tom Ziemianski will test to see if you’re cut out to be an entrepreneur and explore the viability and challenges associated with starting a business.
 

Numbers You Need to Know
October 25, 10:30 AM - 12:00 pm 

Budget, break-even point and cash flow. You have probably heard those terms but may not understand what they mean, why they are important and how to compute them. Knowing these numbers can make the difference between a successful or failing business. Join Jim Whisman of Colonial Financial & Tax Services, LLC to learn why you need to know these numbers to manage your business and get step-by-step instructions for the calculations.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Janet Wurtzel.

Wilmington Launches “It’s Time” Campaign Promoting the City and the Pride of Its People

Follow the campaign websites www.Wilmington.Love; www.WilmToday.com; YouTube Channels ‘Wilmington Love’ and ‘The Wilmington Show;’ and social media platforms Facebook/Twitter/Instagram @ItsTimeWilmDE

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki unveiled a comprehensive communications and promotional campaign—“It’s Time”—to highlight the people of Wilmington and the City as a whole. The new image and pride campaign will tell the stories of Wilmington and its people through narratives and videos utilizing multiple platforms for audiences within the City, as well as regionally, nationally and throughout the world. The announcement was made this evening at a Wilmington Love community celebration in Rodney Square where the Mayor was joined by Governor John Carney and City Council President Hanifa Shabazz.

Governor Carney, a proud City resident who spoke at the Wilm Love celebration, said he’s excited for Wilmington. “Wilmington has been my home for the past three decades, and you can feel the momentum and progress in communities throughout our City,” said Governor John Carney. “It’s true that as goes Wilmington, so goes our state. Wilmington is Delaware’s economic capital, and we all have a stake in its success. I’m pleased to be joining all of our public and private sector partners in helping to tell the story of our City.”

The new communications and promotional campaign establishes a set of shared resources to help neighborhoods and community organizations tell their Wilmington story. These resources include:

• Polling and research to continually solicit local feedback, attitudes and opinions

• Digital tools that include new web-based, social media and YouTube channels

• Public relations to help promote local efforts through regional and national media

Mayor Purzycki said the new campaign does not replace current community-driven efforts such as www.InWilmDE.com, known as the “in” campaign, or any other current promotional effort. Instead, he said, the new campaign will compliment or leverage efforts to promote the City.

The Mayor said the campaign is a megaphone to help tell the powerful stories of Wilmington’s people. To be successful, he said, the campaign needs all citizens to be participants. “We want to hear from all Wilmingtonians,” said the Mayor. “If you know about someone or something awesome in Wilmington, please tell us at http://stories.wilm.love. If you have photos or videos that you think should be a part of our community campaign, submit them to http://media.wilm.love.”

Citizens can participate and support the campaign through www.wilmington.love, www.WilmToday.com, www.InWilmDE.com and through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ItsTimeWilmDE. Mayor Purzycki said by sharing the campaign with others, Wilmington residents can help change the narrative about their City.

Mayor Purzycki today expressed his appreciation for the private sector support for the campaign, which totals more than a half-million dollars to enable Wilmington to tell a more complete story about itself and its citizens in a consistent and continual fashion. The campaign’s private sector partners include Barclays, Capital One, CSC, Epic Research, Incyte, JP Morgan Chase, Chemours and WSFS. In addition, the State has contributed $250,000 and the Mayor has pledged a $70,000 contribution from the City.