Business Initiative

Dine Downtown Deal

Dine Downtown Deal Wilmington DE

What is it?

Support Downtown Wilmington DE eateries and you’ll get rewarded! Dine-in or take out 5x between 1/1/24 and 3/31/24 and 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 (WDBID).

How does it work?   

Dine-in OR takeout at any restaurant within Wilmington’s Downtown Business Improvement District (*see map) between 1/1/24 and 3/31/24. 

  • Take a photo of your receipt

  • Send it with your name, dining location, and date

  • To Downtown Visions (DTV) via text message at 302-502-6003.  

We will keep track of your purchases and when five (5) valid Downtown restaurant receipts are submitted, DTV will contact you to process your earned gift card (20% of total meals, before tip) and inquire as to which Downtown business you want your gift card to and we will mail your gift card! It is that simple! You get cash back for dining at the Downtown restaurants you love. 

When?  

The Dine Downtown Deal initiative program will run from 1/1/24 – 3/31/24, and gift card prizes will be valid for 2024. 

Click here for a list of participating Restaurants. Scroll down to the ‘Food & Drink’ section.

Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District (BID).png

What’s the Fine Print?

Only genuine receipts from eateries within the official boundaries of the Wilmington’s Downtown Business Improvement District (WDBID) are eligible for the Dine Downtown Deal (see map).  An eatery is defined as a business whose primary purpose is to prepare and serve food to the general public in sit-down or take-out form. Businesses that sell food products as a secondary function are not eligible as receipt sources. Receipts must be for dine-in or takeout. Gift cards or merchandise purchases from the restaurants are not valid. Gift cards cannot be used towards the purchase of DDD receipts submitted.

Limit of 2 gift cards per participant. You cannot submit more than one receipt from the same location on the same day. The receipts must be legible and submitted along with the customer name, dining location, and the date of the meal.  An online survey must be completed in order to receive your gift card(s). In case of a dispute, DTV has the final authority to decide what receipts are eligible. All receipts must be submitted by April 30, 2024.

Cashback gift cards are limited to 20% of the total of the five (5) valid receipts submitted (before tip) or up to $100 and may be issued to any business located within the WDBID for use in 2024. A total of five (5) receipts must be submitted in order to be eligible for a gift card. Partial submittals have no cash value. Gift cards will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds are exhausted. Employees of DTV are excluded from the program.

Free Holiday Shipping

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SHOP SMALL – FREE SHIPPING FOR ALL!

Downtown Visions is proud to announce free shipping this holiday season to support our small businesses!

What is it?

Support Downtown retailers this holiday season by shopping online directly on your favorite store’s website, and you’ll receive FREE SHIPPING courtesy of Downtown Visions. Shop between 10/1/24 and 12/31/24 to receive free shipping.

How does it work?   

Shop online with a participating Downtown Wilmington DE small business retailer during the holiday season and receive free shipping. It’s as simple as that! Downtown Visions will cover the cost of the shipping for both you and the retailer.

Participating Downtown Retailers:
Al’s Sporting Goods
Herbert Studios
Huxley & Hiro
LaFate Gallery
Make & Mellow Candle Bar
Morgan’s of Delaware
Rhythm and Heat
Shoe Tech Shoe Repair
Spaceboy Clothing
Town & Shore Handcrafted

When?  

Free shipping will be offered throughout the holiday shopping season from 10/1/24 – 12/31/24 with participating Downtown retailers.


 Are you a Small Business Retailer in Downtown Wilmington!?
Participating is easy – and the rules are simple. 

  • Your business must be located within the Wilmington Downtown DE Business Improvement District (See the map below)

  • Your business must have online sales capabilities and ship throughout the continental U.S. 

  • Your business must advertise Free Shipping to customers this holiday season and ship items free of charge to the customer during the months of October, November and December 2024.  Free shipping costs are not to exceed $100 per month per business.

  • Your business must include the Downtown Visions logo in any marketing or promotional material used and advertised.

  • Your business must request reimbursement by providing documentation of shipping costs, along with the date, basic product info, price, and the zip code to which the product(s) was (were) shipped to Downtown Visions at 409 N. Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 by January 15, 2025 or by email.

  • Once the reimbursement request is verified, Downtown Visions will send a check directly to your business in the total amount of the shipping costs incurred. 

  • Fine print: Documentation of shipping costs must be legible and from online sales only.  DTV has the final authority to decide if documentation is adequate. Reimbursement requests will be processed on a first come first served basis through January 15, 2025, or until funds are exhausted. 

And that is it! Don’t miss out on your opportunity to reach more customers this holiday season and increase your online sales by providing free shipping at no cost to your business! 

Sign up today by sending an email to lschweiger@downtownvisions.org!  Downtown Visions will advertise your business as a participant and supply you with a graphic that you can use on your website to promote your business and Downtown Wilmington’s SHOP SMALL – FREE SHIPPING FOR ALL promotion. 

Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District (BID).png

Business Improvement District

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are areas in which property owners pay an assessment, in addition to property taxes, to fund cleaning, security and marketing services. These services supplement those provided by City government. BIDs have been proven to help in reducing crime and to spark increased retail activity. Cleaner streets and sidewalks help this process.

Funding for Wilmington’s BID is provided primarily by property owners who pay an annual assessment directly to Downtown Visions based on their property tax assessments. Other sources for the operating budget come from proceeds from our for-profit subsidiary, Clean & Safe Services, Inc.

The properties with the top 10% (highest) assessed values pay approximately 80% of the overall assessments

BID ASSESSMENT FAQS

How is my assessment calculated?

Assessments are based on the following formula: Per $100 of New Castle County assessed value x .3770 = total assessment. To find out the assessed value of your property, contact the New Castle County Department of Land Use at 302-395-5400 or visit www.nccde.org.

When are assessment bills mailed?

Annual assessment bills are mailed late-June.

When is my assessment due?

Your bill runs from July 1 through June 30 and is due July 31.

Where do I mail my payment?

WDBID Management Company
(DBA) Downtown Visions
P.O. Box 71271
Philadelphia, PA 19176-6271

Can I pay my bill in person?

Yes. Bills may also be paid in person at Downtown Visions headquarters between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at 409 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

What if I have questions about my bill?
For questions about your assessment bill, please contact Loshawn Maxwell at
(302) 425-4200 ext. 105.

Façade Improvement Program

Within the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District, a block-by-block inventory done by Downtown Visions in 2009 showed that 78% of the buildings would benefit from improved façade treatments, in order to improve their appeal and, in many cases, preserve key historic features. The external appearance of a commercial or retail building is a major factor in attracting potential customers. Statistics from the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Center show that for every $1 invested in façade improvements, $18 resulted in increased Downtown business in 2012.

Since 2010, Downtown Visions’ Main Street Wilmington Program has completed eighty-four (84) building projects and awarded approximately $800,000 in grants towards the restoration of buildings within Downtown Wilmington. These building projects included the removal of twenty nine (29) exterior roll down security gates, sixty two (62) new business signs or awnings, new exterior lights in a dark block, the lighting of the Grand Opera House, the repainting of an entire block of buildings, and the complete restoration of sixty four (64) building facades. These improvements directly resulted in several new business openings as well as improving the revenues through visual appeal of fifty one (51) existing businesses. This has inspired private owners of neglected buildings to join into the movement to revitalize downtown investing their own funds without the need for public subsidy. Both public and private investment has increased dramatically with the creation of the Downtown Development District administered through the Delaware State Housing Authority and private investment by companies like the Buccini/Pollin Group.

A walk down Market Street proves that our Main Street Wilmington Program has been incredibly successful in the restoration of the once hidden and neglected historic character. The program has inspired others to become partners and new businesses to call Downtown Wilmington their home. It is our intent to continue this needed program along the 9th Street corridor and the side streets connecting with Market Street.

As a part of the Façade Improvement Program the Security Gate Removal Project is designed to not only restore the visual aspects of the buildings, but to also improve the perception of safety in the downtown. External roll down security gates have a negative psychological impact especially on visitors during the evening hours. Because current City Code does not forbid the use of these gates we have felt the need to offer 100% funding towards the removal. To reduce our costs we have managed the project internally and contracted directly with vendors. All grants awarded are for physical improvements and do not go towards soft costs. Since 2012 we managed the removal of 28 external roll down security gates.  Each has expressed interest in doing residential on the upper floors of their properties. The ability to do multiple buildings yielded substantial savings and increased productivity.

Downtown Visions staff oversee the entire project from beginning to end. Grants are offered on a matching basis up to $10,000 per façade improvement.  Gate removal reimbursement up to $10,000 for the removal of an external security gate and installation of a new, interior security gate or shatter-proof glass. Interior fit-out grant funding reimbursement is available up to $10,000 on permanently affixed items and $2,500 for reimbursement grants for awnings or signage.

Many of the vacant or available locations even in prominent locations do not meet current code requirements and the market lease rate is not sufficient to cover the investment needed by the property owner. This cost becomes the burden of the new business which makes the location cost prohibitive. Even with these investments there remain significant gaps in affordable housing opportunities within Downtown Wilmington, both in physical separation between locations and in the ability for individual property owners to finance.

Downtown Visions Main Street Program is currently doing a complete comprehensive inventory of every building within the Business Improvement District (BID). This analysis first will primarily focus on vacant buildings and those with vacant upper floors or underutilized. Each will be evaluated as to square footage, number and size of apartments, condos or commercial units.

Our nationally renowned Main Street Program is designed to help you find the right location, guide you through the process of opening your business, and even find grants and/or funding to help you get started.

Contact Main Street Wilmington, Program Director, Lani Schweiger at lschweiger@downtownvisions.org 

Downtown Parking

PARKING IN DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON, DE

Downtown Wilmington DE Parking

If you’ve ever questioned where to park in Downtown Wilmington DE, look no further! There are plenty of parking options to accommodate residents and visitors. Taking a trip Downtown has never been easier!

PUBLIC PARKING

This public parking map is complete with maximum daily rates*, garages, and open lot locations so your next trip into Wilmington, DE is easy breezy. Special thanks to Colonial ParkingWilmington Parking AuthoritySP+Downtown Visions, and The City of Wilmington, DE for compiling this information.

Download the Downtown Wilm DE app in the app store for parking information, including a parking directory listing of garages and surface lots.

The City of Wilmington also offers metered parking through ParkMobile throughout the Central Business District. Metered parking is free on weeknights after 6pm and on weekends.

For more information on parking in Downtown Wilmington DE, click here.

*Rates are subject to change without notice.

FREE CUSTOMER PARKING at select RESTAURANTS

Enjoy complimentary 3-Hour Customer Parking at the following restaurants:

  • Chelsea Tavern

  • Stitch House Brewery

  • DECO Food Hall

  • Wilma’s

  • Makers Alley.

Park at Midtown Garage located at 200 W. 9th Street. Register your vehicle upon entering, scan the QR code upon arriving at the participating restaurants and enjoy! See server for details.
Brought to you by Downtown Visions

FREE CUSTOMER PARKING IN LOMA

Looking for customer parking in the 2nd & LOMA area!? Thanks to Delaware Technical Community College for offering FREE weekend parking at lot #4 on the corner of 2nd & Orange Streets from Friday evening through midnight Monday.

Please be advised that overnight parking in the Del Tech lot #4 is not permitted. Violators will be subject to towing.

Photo Credit: wilmingtonde.gov

Photo Credit: wilmingtonde.gov