Chelsea Tavern Turns 10!

Please join us in wishing Chelsea Tavern a happy birthday on Saturday, March 14th, as the restaurant celebrates its 10th year on Market Street!

Head to Chelsea Tavern for its 10th-anniversary celebration on Saturday, March 14th! The festivities will include live entertainment, $10 food specials, $5 drink specials, and so much more. Past employees are even invited to take advantage of their employee discount for a final time.

Over the past 10 years, Chelsea Tavern has been the literal and figurative heart of Market Street for residents and visitors alike. Whether its been a bite to eat before a show at The Grand Opera House, a late night drink at the bar, or a savory Sunday brunch, Chelsea Tavern has continued to satisfy hungry restaurant-goers with its extensive beer menu and interpretive comfort food. As a 3-time winner of the Delaware Burger Battle, diners have come to expect delicious burgers paired with perfection to one of the 31 beers on tap at Chelsea until the wee hours of the morning.

At the beginning of the year, Chelsea Tavern also announced an enhanced event calendar in honor of the anniversary - and the restaurant stayed true to its promise. The upcoming calendar is jampacked with events, such as: 

• Brewery of the Month Pairing Dinners – Next up Dogfish Head on Thursday, March 26th

• March Draftness - Discount draft beers during all Men’s NCAA basketball games.

• Monthly Cigar Dinners – May through September, 2020

• Cinco de Mayo Block Party - Date TBD

• Downtown Brew Fest – Saturday, August 9th, 2020

• Weekly Geeks Who Drink Trivia & Flight Club on Tuesday Nights

In addition to ramping up the events calendar, Chelsea Tavern underwent a number of renovations this past year to prepare for the momentous occasion. The new and improved Chelsea Tavern features updated flooring, wall coverings, and lighting within the dining room. The bar also got a refresh with a new bar top equipped with USB outlets for smartphones. Additionally, overlooking the new outdoor plaza next door is the best covered outdoor seating area downtown, with new patio furniture and upgraded landscaping.

See the renovations for yourself and stop in to wish Chelsea Tavern a happy anniversary this month!

Where to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Downtown Wilmington DE

Break out your green and head downtown on Saturday, March 14th, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Downtown Wilmington, DE! Whether you’re of Irish descent or simply Irish for the day, there are plenty of events to get in the spirit.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Hooley | ‼️Please note: Parade and Hooley have been cancelled for Saturday‼️

Beginning at noon, the Irish Culture Club of Delaware’s 45th St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Hooley will kick off in Downtown Wilmington. The parade, which lasts about one hour, begins at Fourth and King streets and proceeds up King to 15th Street. Immediately following the parade, the ICCD’s traditional Hooley after party will take place at the corner of King & 12th streets, which features refillable mugs for $20.

Cavanaugh’s Irish Specials | 11:00AM, 703 N Market St

Head to Cavanaugh’s to indulge in tradition Irish fare on Saturday during their special holiday hours from 11:00AM to 8:00PM. Dishes include corn beef cabbage, Guinness beef stew and fish & chips to be paired nicely with Irish drink specials!

St. Paddy’s Loop | 4:00PM, Various Locations

The unofficial start to spring returns with Delaware's biggest St. Paddy's celebration! One $10 cover gains you admittance into all 11 venues and entitles you to a discount on Lyft rideshare services. Downtown venues include Chelsea Tavern, Cavanaugh’s, and Makers Alley! Look for Guinness beer and Tullamore Dew whiskey specials at all Loop venues.

Chelsea Tavern’s 10th Birthday | 8:00PM, 821 N Market St

Celebrate Chelsea Tavern's 10th anniversary on Market Street! Enjoy live entertainment, $10 food specials, $5 drink specials, and so much more. Past employees are even invited to take advantage of their employee discount for a final time!

Spokey Speaky At Stitch House Brewery | 9:00PM, 829 N Market St

If you’re not in the mood for classic Celtic tunes, head to Stitch House! Spokey Speaky will play top notch Reggae for all to enjoy.

Don't Miss An Evening of Mardi Gras in Wilmington!

Saturday, March 7th | 7:00-11:00pm | 300 North Orange St

An Evening of Mardi Gras is Delaware Technical Community College’s largest fundraiser to support student scholarships for the Stanton and Wilmington campuses. Guests will be treated to exceptional New Orleans-style music, entertainment, and food, as well as glass painting, craft beer tasting, tarot card reading, a comedy show, and dancing. Over the past 15 years, the event has raised more than $1.5 million, which is used to help students in need pay for tuition, books, and other essentials while attending Delaware Tech.

Purchase your tickets now and set Del Tech’s students up for success all year long!

Fall in love with Wilmington at these Valentine's Day events!

Love is all around Downtown Wilmington this month! Check out these events to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved ones.

Prix Fixe Dinner

February 14-16 | Chelsea Tavern

For $75 per couple, guests will enjoy a 3-course dinner at Chelsea Tavern including champagne. Reservations are recommended at 302.482.3333!

Chef-Inspired Menu

February 14 | Tonic Bar & Grille

Tonic is offering a chef-inspired menu for Valentine's Day with delicious entrees like this mouthwatering 12 oz Filet Mignon!

Chocolate Festival

February 14, 11AM | Wilmington Public Library

Participate in the baking contest, sample chocolates, purchase tickets for the raffle baskets and face painting at the Wilmington Public Library's Annual Chocolate Festival!

Cupid's Undie Run

February 15, 12PM | The Queen

Cupid’s Undie Run is a “brief” fun run (a mile-ish, at your own pace) that takes place in the middle of a BIG party to find a cure for neurofibromatosis!

Free Resources for Small Businesses

Downtown Visions mission is to create, manage, and promote a quality environment for business development within our neighborhood by providing small business assistance through various initiatives. We strive to inform our community of the free resources available to them by a number of local and national agencies. If you have any questions on starting, or growing, your businesses in Downtown Wilmington DE, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Delaware Division of Small Business

The Delaware Division of Small Business, part of the Delaware Department of State, is a service-focused agency committed to supporting businesses starting and growing in Delaware. Small businesses can reach out to the Division for assistance in connecting to the resources and advice to succeed. The Division is a champion for Delaware small businesses and is here to help take companies to the next level.

• Features an online portal to find and connect to organizations in Delaware who assist small businesses. Click here to visit portal.

The Division of Small Business also EDGE grants to eligible businesses to encourage development, growth, and expansion. The EDGE Grant program gives qualified small businesses in Delaware an edge by offering access to significant capital like never before. The business must have been in operation less than 5 years. This will give them access to capital up to $50,000 for the Entrepreneur Class and $100,000 for Stem based companies!

• The deadline is Friday, February 28, 2020.

• For more information, click here.

New Castle County Chamber of Commerce

NCCCC hosts “Open For Business” sessions on the fourth Thursday of each month from 9:30 am - 11:30 am for small business owners to meet with representatives from their partner organizations. Collectively, these organizations provide a range of services that help start-ups advance their business model, reach potential customers, land government contracts, secure loans, meet state regulatory requirements and generally mentor entrepreneurs striking out on their own for the first time.

• Next event is Tuesday, February 25, 2020 located at 920 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE.

• The event is free, registration is suggested. To register, click here.

Downtown Merchant Meetings

Downtown Visions also hosts Downtown Merchant Meetings one Tuesday a month for business owners within the Central Business District share ideas and connect with each other.

• The next Merchant Meeting is at 9:30 am on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at Stitch House Brewery.

America Express Future of Shopping Small Grant Program

American Express® is teaming up with Main Street America to give 10 small business owners $10,000 each to help their businesses innovate in this evolving retail landscape. The American Express Future of Shopping Small Grant Program will celebrate small businesses across the country that are a vital part of their community. The program is intended to support small businesses that have demonstrated new approaches to traditional business strategies and those businesses looking to try out creative techniques, while also helping to revitalize and strengthen older and historic commercial districts.

• The deadline is Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

• For more information, click here.

• To see if your businesses is location within one of Delaware’s Downtown Development Districts (DDD), click here.