Best of Delaware 2021: Downtown Wilmington Winners!

This was a tough year for our small businesses and we missed out on a lot but we want to celebrate those who overcame, persevered and are back and better than ever! Our Downtown winners thought outside of the box with innovative ideas and hardwork and now its time to applaud them.

Delaware Today announced this year’s Best of Delaware 2021 winners thanks to readers and editors throughout the state that nominated and voted for their favorite Delaware Businesses, and over xx establishments in our very own Downtown Wilmington community! We can’t wait to celebrate this year at the Best of Delaware party on September 30th at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.

Please join us in congratulating these well-deserving businesses by supporting their hard work by visiting their in-store location, ordering take out, or purchasing a gift card!

Best Places for Shopping & Services:
Tattoo Parlor, Editors: Poppycock Tattoo

Best Food & Drink:
After-Work Drinks, Editors: Makers Alley
Artsy Latte, Editors: Milk and Honey @ Loma
Brunch Variety, Editors: Le Cavalier
European Bistro, Editors: La Fia Bistro
Fresh Mex to Go, Editors: El Diablo
Grain Bowl, Editors: Green Box Kitchen
Innovative Plates, Editors: Bardea Food + Drink
Mocktail, Editors: Torbert Street Social
New Menu, Editors: Tonic Steak & Seafood
Workday Lunch Spot, Editors: DE.CO Food Hall
Coffee Shop, Editors: Brew HaHa!
New Restaurant, Editors: Dorcea
Sushi, Editors: Mikimotos
Weeknight Specials, Editors: Chelsea Tavern 
Japanese, Readers: Mikimotos
Best Coffee, Readers: Brew HaHa!
New Restaurant, Readers: Dorcea
Sushi, Readers: Mikimotos
Wilmington/Center City Restaurant, Readers: Chelsea Tavern 

Best Fun & Leisure Activities: 
Hotel, Editors: Hotel Du Pont
Spa Experience, Editors: Currie Hair, Skin & Nails (at Hotel DuPont)
Stage Performances, Editors: The Grand Opera House and The Playhouse on Rodney Square

 People Who Make the First State Unique:
Local Designer, Editors: Liv McClintock

Open for Business in Downtown Wilmington DE

Downtown Wilmington DE is home to hundreds of small businesses ready to serve you! Use this directory to search what businesses are currently open for business.

As Delaware continues to safely ease restrictions and establishments return to more normal operations, please be sure to follow all City, State, and CDC guidelines, and check with businesses for additional safety precautions during your visit.

For help traveling to Downtown Wilmington DE during the ongoing I-95 construction, please visit www.restorethecorridor.com for up-to-date traffic information, an interactive map, and alternate routes. For information on parking in Downtown Wilmington DE, please click here.

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We rely on our small business community to create thriving neighborhoods for our residents and visitors every day. During this time of uncertainty, we need to do all we can to support these businesses, and their staff, by: dining in, ordering takeout, purchasing gift cards, following them on social media, spreading the word about their offers, or posting a positive review.

Please consider helping our small business owners and #ShopSmall during this crisis and always!

If you are looking for additional ways to support these businesses and help them bounce back from COVID-19, please consider donating to the Wilmington Strong Fund, which offers grants to small businesses within the City of Wilmington to ensure they remain open for business for years to come.

Valentine's Day Gifts & Date Ideas in Downtown Wilmington

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to cherish our loved ones. This Valentine’s Day celebrate the special someone(s) in your life, friends and family included, with help from your favorite Downtown Wilmington small businesses. Whether your planning to stay in or head out on the town, Downtown Wilmington has got you covered!

Don’t forget to take advantage of free valet parking and the Dine Downtown Deal when planning date night!

Gifts They’ll Love

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Al’s Sporting Goods has the gear needed to share the warmth this Valentine’s Day. From UGG to Columbia, you’ll find brand-name gifts for a cozy winter! Get rewarded with FREE shipping when you shop online.

A.R. Morris Jewelers has gifts that make a statement! Jewelry is never a bad idea and it’s the perfect way to mark a Valentine’s Day spent with a loved one: it’s personal, it’s memorable and it can be truly romantic. Shop online & you’ll even receive FREE shipping across the country.

Brew HaHa! just released a limited edition Romance Blend Coffee for all the Hopeless Coffee Romantics out there. Try their new limited release coffee. This three-component blend creates a chocolate-pineapple-brown-sugar sweetness with the perfect subtle floral finish. Order a bag for yourself or for the coffee lover in your life while you can!

LaFate Gallery has a number of love-themed paintings and gifts for the art-lover in your life from the award-winning folk artist Eunice LaFate. Shop online and ship your gift for FREE to anywhere in the US!

Morgan’s of Delaware is the perfect place to treat the fashionista in your life. Take advantage of their Winter Sale and save up to 50% storewide. Morgan’s creates chic everyday casual outfits that fit in fabrics that flatter. Click here to shop online or visit the store today. Online purchases also qualify for FREE shipping to anywhere in the US!

Spaceboy Clothing’s vintage collection is great for truly unique gifts. Utilize their custom screen printing services for an even more one-of-a-kind piece!

Spark’d Creative Pastry in DECO food hall is having a Valentine’s Day Bake Sale complete with festive sweet treats available for pre-order/pick-up with 48 hours notice. Click here to view the menu & order online!

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Perfect for Date Night

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Bardea will be opening its doors on a Sunday evening for the first time ever in honor of Valentine’s Day so don’t wait to make your reservations! Bardea.home will also be offering a 6-course surf & turf meal for two for those that want to spend the holiday in the comfort of their own home. Simple warming instructions are provided with every meal. Wine & cocktail pairings are also available! Orders must be placed by Thursday, February 12th, at 5 pm.

Cavanaugh’s offers filling takeout to fit any budget! Every Tuesday and Thursday night, you can take advantage of their $10 takeout dinner entrees and pick them up between 4-7 pm. Simply place your order online and stop by on your way home from work for a delicious and easy dinner. No cooking or cleaning involved!

Chelsea Tavern is offering its Sweetheart Package for two Friday, February 11th, through Sunday, the 14th. Enjoy a 3-course pre-fixe menu and a glass of sparkling wine for $75/couple. All lovers are welcome, so make your reservation today!

Currie Hair, Skin, & Nails’ new location opened at the Hotel Dupont just in time to pamper your loved one for Valentine’s Day! With a full spa, hair, nail, and makeup services, it’s the perfect place to relax and renew. During the month of February, the salon is even featuring a chocolate-covered berry facial meant to maximize hydration and reduce inflammation.

HOTEL DU PONT is the perfect place for a staycation! Enjoy chef-curated and French-inspired in-suite dining packages from Le Cavalier in a private hotel room for an overnight stay or just for dinner. Groups of 2-10 can book the offering for a three-hour dinner block or dinner and an overnight stay. Maison x Le Cav offers an equally decadent take-home option for those who might prefer an intimate night in this V-Day. 

La Fia has the perfect atmosphere for an intimate date night! Offering a 4-course Valentine’s Day Pre-Fixe menu, including lobster bisque and New York strip steak, these reservations are sure to be filled quickly,

Terra Café now offers Greek Dinner to-go meals on Friday nights in February perfect for staying in! The meals change weekly, so there is sure to be something to satisfy your cravings. To reserve an order, simply call the restaurant by Wednesday at 2:00 pm to ensure availability.

The Sold Firm is opening a brand new exhibit in February perfect for a thoughtful date night. STORM by Sakana Walls opens in Black History Month with a powerful story that digs into the dark areas of a less desirable world. Sakana has used his artistic gift and limited resources to pull himself out of that dark place and create freedom from behind bars. Each art piece expresses hope, redemption, and peace. Sakana Walls, a Philadelphia painter, will be presenting his first art exhibit at The Sold Firm Art Gallery while incarcerated in a local prison. This is the first time a Delaware art gallery is presenting a solo exhibit by an incarcerated artist. 

Back By Popular Demand: Dine Downtown Deal & Free Shipping Promotion!

We all know that 2020 was incredibly challenging for our small businesses, and this year is proving to be no different. In order to help them weather this ongoing storm, the Dine Downtown Deal and the Free Shipping Promotion have both been renewed!

Our small businesses, and their employees, are relying on your patronage to remain open during this increasingly difficult time. They have continued to adapt to the everchanging guidelines in order to keep serving their community. Most businesses are now offering online ordering, free delivery, and curbside pickup.

We urge you to #ShopSmall and #SupportLocal in Downtown Wilmington DE.

Dine Downtown Deal

Support Downtown Wilmington DE eateries and you’ll get rewarded! Dine-in or take out 5x between 1/1/21 and 3/31/21, text your receipts to 302-502-6003, and you’ll receive a gift card in the amount of 20% of the total meals purchased (before tip) to the business of your choice in the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District (BID)! You may still participate in DDD 2.0 even if you received a gift card from phase 1 one the program. For more details, click the link below.

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Free Shipping Promotion

Shop small with the click of a button! Please support Downtown Wilmington DE retailers during this time of crisis. Some of your favorite businesses are even offering FREE shipping for all online purchases. Simply shop online at the following local businesses between 1/1/21 and 3/31/21, and they’ll ship your purchases anywhere within the United States for free:

• Al’s Sporting Goods

• A.R. Morris Jewelers

• LaFate Gallery

• Morgan’s of Delaware

• Spaceboy Clothing

Every small purchase makes a big difference - now more than ever!

Stick to your New Year's Resolutions with These Downtown Businesses

Sticking to your New Year's resolutions all year long can be difficult, but with help from these Downtown Wilmington DE businesses you'll be able to achieve your goals whether you want to feel your best, nourish your body, or even learn a new skill!

If you want to feel your best…

CoreTen Fitness | 1007 N. Orange Street, Suite GL-05

CoreTen Fitness is Wilmington, DE’s premier fitness facility offering a variety of membership options for any type of exerciser. In addition to their state-of-the-art cardio equipment, knowledgeable coaches and extensive weight room, CoreTen Fitness offers personal training programs, group exercise classes, small group training and more!

Central YMCA | 501 W 11th St

As a Y member, you will have access to personalized fitness plans, state-of-the-art fitness centers, hundreds of group exercise classes, babysitting while you work out, indoor and outdoor pools, tons of programming for youth and adults, personal training and so much more! Oh, and did you know that you can also visit most YMCAs across the country at no extra charge? What are you waiting for?

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If you want to nourish your body…

Eat Clean Juice Bar | 225 N Market St

Healthy never tasted this good! Eat Clean is a full-service juice bar serving health-conscious comfort food, including cold-pressed juices using local and organic produce. Build your own smoothies & acai bowls with an array of ingredients that meet your healthy tastebuds, and so much more.

Green Box Kitchen | 400 N Market St

Eating healthy should be simple and enjoyable. The goal of Green Box Kitchen is to make eating healthy uncomplicated and tasty by using nutrient-dense, plant-based ingredients that are not only good for you but, also taste absolutely amazing. Their mission is to nourish our community by serving a healthy, approachable, and tasteful plant-based menu, all while rooting our efforts in local philanthropy and social change. 

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If you want to learn something new…

LaFate Gallery | 227 N Market St

Painting the Folk Art Way class is designed for participants to "Discover the Artist in YOU". The presenter will discuss the basics of creating a work of art. Participants will tour the gallery for inspiration. Participants will be guided to create a work of art using LINES, SHAPES, & COLORS.

NextFab | 503 N Tatnall St

At NextFab, you’ll find all the tools and technology needed to support your entrepreneurial endeavors, as well as a tight-knit community to connect with. With department workshops, offices, communal space, and flexible space ready to be tailored to members’ needs, they offer the latest resources and a clean, comfortable environment to work in.

The Sold Firm | 800 N Tatnall St

The STORM exhibit opens Friday 2/19/21 in the Sold Firm art gallery. This is a solo exhibit by Sakana Walls. An incarcerated painter using his gift as freedom until the release date. Tickets are $10 and are now available for opening weekend 2/19, 2/20 and 2/21. Sakana will be live on video during opening weekend, from the correctional facility he is currently housed in.

Wilmington Public Library | 10 E 10th St

It's Lit Community Book Club is a partnership between the Wilmington Public Library and PowHER Book Club. This book club is an open virtual space for adults. Each month they read a book from a writer from the African diaspora. For more information and to register for the book club, click here.

Have you ever wanted to learn American Sign Language? Here's your chance! Learn the basics of American Sign Language ONLINE through the library! This class will meet every Wednesday at 7pm via Zoom for (4) weeks. All participants are expected to attend all four sessions. Each week participants will learn new skills to prepare them for future meetings. Learn more.

Zip Code Wilmington | 1007 N Orange St, 4th Floor

No matter your age, gender, educational background, or career, Zip Code Wilmington coaches every day, motivated people from diverse backgrounds into skilled, professional developers. The program will give you the know-how and network to build a career you're excited about all while doing meaningful work. Join a dynamic group of people hungry to be in control of their career paths and love what they do. Become a Zip Coder.