Brand New Pop-Up Holiday Village Coming To Market Street!

A brand new pop-up Holiday Village is coming to Market Street to help us kick off the Christmas Season in Downtown Wilmington DE!

When: Saturday | November 30th | 11am-5pm

Where: Willingtown Square | 505 N Market Street

Head to Willingtown Square following the Wilmington Jaycees Christmas Parade on Saturday, November 30th, to check out Wilmington’s first Holiday Village. The market, open from 11AM to 5PM, will feature local vendors, live carolers, delicious treats, and so much more! We hear that Santa will even be making a special appearance while in town for children to share their Christmas wishes.

The Holiday Village festivities include:

• Unique handmade gifts from local vendors

• Live holiday classics performed by Hotsy Totsy Gals

• FREE book giveaway from Wilmington Public Library

  • While supplies last for children under 10 years old

• K9 demonstration from the Wilmington Police Department at 12:30PM

• “Touch A Truck” with the Wilmington Fire Department at 1PM

• Showings of The Snowman inside the Delaware Historical Society

• Appearance from Santa

• Face painting & sand art activities

• Small Business Saturday “Shop Small” giveaways

The pop-up Holiday Village will conclude with the lighting of Willingtown Square in an incredible holiday display at 5PM! Following the lighting, the Holiday Light Display will be open to the public 7 days a week from dusk until 9 pm starting through February 2020.

As a reminder, street parking is FREE on weekends in Downtown Wilmington DE as well as in Colonial Surface Lots. View a map of all parking options here.

Special thanks to the Holiday Village sponsors The Delaware Historical Society, Downtown Visions, Wilmington Alliance, and IN Wilmington!

Downtown Wilmington Continues to Grow with 7 New Businesses

Downtown Wilmington DE is bursting at the seams with new bars, restaurants, and businesses! After a busy summer with 7 brand new establishments opening in our neighborhood, we are pleased to welcome 7 more new businesses that opened this fall. Check out our newest neighbors below and be sure to give them a warm welcome to Downtown Wilmington!

Blitzen | 220 W 9th St

Blitzen is a brand new, pop-up holiday themed bar coming to 220 W 9th Street, run by the team behind Stitch House Brewery & Faire Market & Cafe. The bar, tastefully decked out in tinsel and string lights, will be open Wednesday-Saturday through the end of the year.

El Diablo Burritos | 837 N Market St

Image Credit: Town Square Delaware

The popular northern Delaware fast-casual eatery debuted their highly-anticipated Downtown location at 837 Market St on October 29! You can enjoy all of your favorite burrito and taco options here with the addition of a brand new breakfast menu, available exclusively on Market Street. If it’s anything like their other locations, you can expect to see lines out the door during the lunch rush…

The Chicken Spot | 204 W 10th St

The Chicken Spot is a brand new eatery taking over the location formerly occupied by Benjamin’s On 10th. The menu will feature different varieties of - you guessed it - chicken. The owner, Venu Gaddamidi, also manages Veritas Wine & Craft Beer and Ciro Food & Drink down on the Riverfront. The Chicken Spot officially opens its doors on Monday, November 11, at 11AM!

Makers Alley | 804 N Orange St

Image Credit: Moonloop Photo

Makers Alley is a brand new bar tucked away off Shipley Street in a transformed 19th-century carpenter’s shop - complete with a classic Airstream travel trailer turned food truck. Self-proclaimed as a joint for bites, sips, and outdoor vibes, discovered off the beaten path, Makers Alley is perfect addition to our Downtown bar scene allowing for a casual drink and bite to eat.

Green Box Kitchen | 400 N Market St

Brought to you by the founders and friends of Wilmington Green Box, Green Box Kitchen is a fast-casual vegan restaurant and juice bar that serves hand-crafted salads, smoothies, açaí bowls, cold pressed juices, grain bowls, and other fresh foods that are incredibly delicious and always 100% plant based. Their mission is to nourish the community by serving a healthy, approachable, and tasteful plant-based menu, all while rooting their efforts in local philanthropy and social change.  

Wilmington Land Bank | 404 N Market St

The mission of the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank (WNCLB) is to return vacant, dilapidated, abandoned, and delinquent properties to productive use, while strengthening and revitalizing our neighborhoods and inspiring economic development.

Jet Phynx Flims | 408 N Market St

Image Credit: WITN22

Jet Phynx Films is an independent film company that proudly specializes in entertainment and lifestyle branding, offering digital content such as video production, photography, motion graphics, graphic and sound design, and music production, and boasts a client list that includes Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Coca-Cola, Under Armour, Roc Nation, RCA Records, Atlantic Records, Skechers, Zelle, and Soundcloud among others. Jet Phynx Films strives to offer a space that will help “creatives and executives bring their imagination to life.

Holiday Marketing Opportunities Through Downtown Visions

Downtown Visions is committed to the success of each and every business in Downtown Wilmington DE, especially during the holiday season! As an organization, our mission is to preserve, promote and enhance the Business Improvement District, and we do so in a number of ways, including business marketing and promotion. Please consider taking advantage of the following marketing opportunities for a thriving holiday season in Downtown Wilmington!

Market Made: 12 Days of Christmas

Downtown Visions and New Market Wilm are partnering to offer the FREE opportunity to promote unique holiday specials from December 12-23, 2019, similar to last summer’s Made on Market campaign. The deadline to submit an offer is November 4th, so please email Lani Schweiger LSchweiger@downtownvisions.org or Jennifer Lawson Jennifer@bigideaswilmington.com to participate!

Wilmington Jaycee’s Christmas Parade

The Wilmington Jaycee’s are hosting the 56th annual Wilmington Christmas Parade this year on Saturday, November 30th at 11am!  This parade is volunteer based and is a Downtown tradition that cannot continue without help from our local businesses. Please consider sponsoring the small business float for $100 and supporting the parade this year. Sponsors are also welcome to ride on the float during the parade! For more detailed sponsorship information, click here.

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday also takes place on Saturday, November 30, coinciding with the Christmas Parade! Take advantage of the nearly 10,000 parade-goers in town and stay open on Small Business Saturday. Offer a special #ShopSmall promotion that day to capture the foot traffic in Downtown Wilmington. Be sure to share these promotions and coupons with us as we will help promote them! You can even create custom marketing materials for your business through the American Express Shop Small Studio.

For more information on any of these holiday marketing opportunities, please email Lani Schweiger at LSchweiger@downtownvisions.org.

2019 Readers' Choice Downtown Wilmington DE Winners

The readers have chosen. The votes are in. The winners announced. Now it’s time to celebrate! Join us in congratulating all of the Downtown Wilmington DE businesses that received recognition in The News Journal and Delaware Online's 2019 Readers' Choice competition.

All of the winners were nominated by and voted for by readers just like you. People from all across the state agree that Downtown Wilmington, Delaware is a thriving center for retail, dining, and entertainment.

Next time you’re out and about in the neighborhood, please give these small business owners the credit they deserve on achieving this incredible accomplishment!

2019 Readers’ Choice Downtown Wilmington DE Winners

• The Grand Opera House – Theater Finalist

• Theatre N - Theater Finalist

• City Theater Company - Theater Finalist

• Poppycock Tattoo & Piercing – Tattoo and Piercing Finalist

• Spaceboy Clothing – Men’s Clothing 1st Place Winner & Consigner, Resale Vintage Finalist

• Wright & Simon – Men’s Clothing Finalist

• A.R. Morris Jewelers – Designer Jewelry Finalist & Jewelry Store Finalist

• Domaine Hudson – Romantic Restaurant Finalist, City Tour Finalist, Wine Bar Finalist

• Mikimotos – Sushi 1st Place Winner & Asian Fusion Finalist

• The Queen – Live Music Venue Finalist

• The Nomad Bar – Live Music Finalist

• Al’s Sporting Goods – Sporting Goods Finalist

• Brew HaHa! – Coffee Shop Finalist

• Drip Café – Coffee Shop Finalist & Brunch Finalist

• UDairy Creamery – Ice Cream Shop Finalist

You're Invited: Downtown Wilmington Meet & Greet!

Downtown Vision’s Executive Director Marty Hageman and City of Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki invite you to an evening of fun and conversation with other special guests as we kick off the holiday season in Downtown Wilmington, DE. Learn more about all of the ways to celebrate the holidays in your neighborhood this season!

All are welcome to attend the quarterly Meet & Greet on Wednesday, November 20, from 5-7 PM at the Delaware History Museum at 504 N Market St. in the Copeland Room. Light appetizers and refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there!

Click Here to register. Registration is requested but not required.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Downtown Visions, NKS Distributors, and Shoprite, and our host Delaware History Museum.