Initiatives

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.

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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.

Small Business Saturday

Thank you for shopping Small with us on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season! As always, we encourage customers to stay Downtown and shop local for great deals. Who knows, you may even get to visit with Santa! 

If you can’t make it Downtown you can still support your favorite local businesses by purchasing online or in-store and receiving free shipping to anywhere in the US. Find out which businesses are participating in our FREE HOLIDAY SHIPPING initiative!

The Wilmington Jaycee’s Downtown Christmas Parade

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2024 - SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

The Wilmington Jaycee’s Downtown Christmas Parade will kickoff at 2nd and Market Streets at 11 AM. The Parade will feature local celebrities and dignitaries, marching and string bands, community organizations, floats and attractions, your favorite cartoon characters, and of course Santa Claus. Don’t forget to bring your letters to Santa as the Elves will be collecting them at the end of the parade.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS DEALS:

Chelsea Tavern, 821 N Market Street
Gift Card Buy One, Get One Gift Card FREE!
Only available Christmas Eve, December 24 from 10am-5pm

Collars’ N Cuffs, 716 N Market Street
Holiday Sweater Sale: Buy One Sweater, Get the 2nd One 1/2 price

CoreTen Fitness, 220 W 11th Street
Buy one hour-long personal training session ($65) and get one session free OR $100 off a package of 10 sessions (reg. price $600).
Offer valid Small Business Saturday, November 30 through December 23rd. Sessions may be gifted but expire within 1 year of purchase. All purchases and bookings must be made through the CoreTen mobile app using promo code "12DaysofFitness
Apple download
Google Play download

Delaware Historical Society, 504 N Market Street
75% off all books and 25% off everything else in our museum store from 11/30 - 12/21, while supplies last. The store is open during Museum hours, Wednesday-Saturday, 12-5 p.m. 

Girard Craft and Cork, 224 W 9th Street
Make your holidays a little brighter at Girard Craft & Cork—your one-stop destination for quality wine, craft beer, and spirits at 224 West 9th Street in Downtown Wilmington. From Monday, December 2nd through Saturday, December 14th, enjoy 5% off beer or spirits or 10% off wine—it’s your choice! Show this digital coupon at checkout to stock up on your holiday favorites and savor the season! (Discount excludes single beers.)

LaFate Gallery, 227 N Market Street 
Double matted prints: 50% OFF
Original paintings: 30% OFF
Coffee mugs with images of Eunice LaFate's original paintings: Buy One, Get 25% off the 2nd One 
Holiday savings available between November 29 through December 24.

Makers Alley, 804 N Orange Street
Gift Card promotion available from 11/22/2024 - 12/23/2024, only in-person
Guests receive a free bar bite or draft beer when they purchase a $50 gift card

The Mill at Market West, 221 W 10th Street 
Start 2025 strong at The Mill at Market West! For just a little more than a few lattes a month, our Community Membership gives you full access to the space during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), high-speed internet, conference rooms, affordable printing, and a vibrant community. Enjoy your first month FREE and take advantage of perks like bottomless coffee, all while working in a productive environment separate from home or the coffee shop. Scan the QR code to fill out a form and redeem this discount. Must be redeemed by February 28, 2025.

Spaceboy Clothing, 205 N Market Street
Get Free shipping on all online orders until the end of the year and save 20% when you shop in-store.

Theatre N, 1007 N Orange Street
Sign up for Theatre N’s weekly email at TheatreN.com to snag your exclusive code word—and a free medium popcorn! Use the code word from that week’s email when you buy your ticket and enjoy this delicious deal on either Sunday or Wednesday. Because nothing says “holiday magic” like a movie, some buttery popcorn, and a reason to escape the holiday chaos for a few hours. Offer valid for one free popcorn per person, per movie ticket, each week from December 1 to December 22, 2024. Don’t miss out—sign up and pop in! 

Tonic Seafood & Steak, 111 W 11th Street
Receive a $25 bonus gift card with in-store purchase of $100 gift card between November 29th through December 24. Gift cards can be used at Tonic Seafood & Steak or Park Café.

The Queen, 500 N. Market Street
Promotion available 11/30/2024 - end of the year
50% off signature drinks at the Knights Bar during Wednesday’s free,​ Live & Local music series from 4-8pm.

Wilma’s, 900 N. Market Street
Gift Card promotion available from 11/30/2024 - 12/23/2024
Buy $25 – get a free $5 gift card
Buy $50 – get a free $10 gift card
Buy $75 – get a free $15 gift card
Buy $100 – get a free $20 gift card

Wilmington Library, 10 E 10th Street
Black Friday (11/29/24) Sale - Bin of Books $30 *limited supply

DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY MARKETS & EVENTS:

Shop Small this season! Save the dates for all the Downtown holiday happenings.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2024

We invite you to the return of the popular Light Up the Square tree-lighting celebration. This cherished holiday tradition will take place on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in Rodney Square, at 10th and Market Streets. The public is encouraged to join in singing traditional holiday songs with live performances by Gateway Labs Charter School, Martin Hargrove, princess and holiday characters and more. Santa Claus and Rudolph will make an appearance, and Spark’d will be onsite selling hot chocolate, assorted treats, cookies, and bars. DE.CO Food Hall, at 111 West 10thStreet, will host a holiday pre-party beginning at 4:30 p.m. with food and drink specials and with holiday music or head to DECO after the event to enjoy drink specials at the bar.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2024

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2024

Free Holiday Shipping

Free Holiday Shipping.jpg

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. 

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City Sounds Block Party

A lot is going down in Downtown Wilmington DE

What better way to enjoy the season than by enjoying free live music outdoors in Downtown Wilmington, DE? Now through October 2024, bring your chair, bring your friends, bring your kids!

City sounds block parties

Enjoy live music on select nights from 5:00-8:00pm in Downtown Wilmington DE at different Downtown locations. Free admission - only good times (and good vibes) required!

Check our Facebook Event for an up-to-date list of upcoming musicians and locations.

Free Parking Nights & Weekends

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.

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

About Curbside Wilmington

Downtown Visions together with Mayor Purzycki, the City of Wilmington, and The Committee of 100 introduced expanded outdoor dining to support local businesses and encourage patrons to return to the rejuvenated Downtown District during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Expanded outdoor dining allows Downtown restaurants to expand their patio spaces and outdoor dining into former parking spaces directly in front of their businesses, thereby allowing more seating at safely spaced distances in accordance with Governor Carney’s guidelines. Also, curbside pull-in spots have been designated throughout the Downtown area for all businesses, both retail and restaurants, to use for pick-up and curbside delivery. 

Downtown Visions provided additional tables and chairs to restaurants as needed, and custom-made railings created by the Challenge Program for both safety and esthetical purposes.

Since the launch of expanded outdoor dining, the City has expanded the initiative outside of Downtown Wilmington DE to Union Street and Trolley Square’s Dining on Delaware through “It’s Time to G.O.A.T (Get Out Around Town)". Learn more here.

It's Time Wilmington, Gable Music Ventures, Downtown Visions and InWilm have teamed up to bring us the BEST in outdoor dining and entertainment through the citywide campaign "It's Time To G.O.A.T. (Get Out Around Town)". It's Time to Live A Little - so come on down and join us as we chow down and enjoy live music!

The kickoff festivities took place on June 10, 2021 with Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki on the 800 block of N. Market Street. Immediately following was a live performance by Aziza Nailah.

Afterwards, the 400 block of N. Market Street was closed to traffic for the summer's first weekly Curbside Wilmington Happy Hour by Downtown Visions with live music by Sunset Riders.

SPONSORSHIP

A special thanks to our presenting sponsor JPMorgan Chase for making this celebration and event series a possibility.

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.