In its heyday, Wilmington’s Ninth Street was often abuzz with festivals and street events. Now, a collaboration of grass roots organizations and businesses have joined together with the backing of Wilmington government to revitalize the corridor as a fashion district.
Main Street Wilmington made its fashion district debut Friday with what they hope will become a heart-stopping annual artist and artisan event: Art Attack.
The inaugural event was a little slow at first, but even so, it accomplished what its organizers hoped it would: draw new life and new faces in, said Main Street Wilmington Director Clarence E. Wright.
"I saw all the activity and thought I'd come see as I left work," said Brenda Perry as she looked through artwork by artist Eunice LaFate about her work, which has a permanent home in the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library.
Mary Grantham got a lesson in glass blowing from owners of Eye 4 Glass Karla Swarthout and Paula Stapleton.
"I saw this when I came out for lunch today and I thought I'd come back out and see what it is. So far it's good for a first annual arts walk," said Grantham.
Jane Rosenzweig stumbled on it as well.
"We didn't know this was happening today. We were just going for a walk, but we're excited any time we see a street fair," Rosenzweig said.
Exactly, Wright said.
“We want to showcase Ninth Street for people who wouldn’t normally walk down it and stay awhile,” he said.
Main Street Wilmington is a nonprofit partnership created to improve the central business district of Wilmington. Aside from Wright, its sole salaried employee, the organization is all grass roots, driven by committees and volunteers.
The group has been spurred on by recent retail successes in the district: Ameritage restaurant and bistro moved to Ninth Street, then Minster’s Jewelers relocated from Market Street with plans to branch out into apparel and other complimentary retail, and the women’s accessory store Divine Fashions by Keiko Myrtice has also moved in.
Organizers hope to continue playing up the districts’ fashion clout with more events, fashion shows, maybe even putting a runway down the center of Ninth Street.
Main Street Wilmington was spearheaded in 2006 by Wilmington Mayor James Baker as a partnership between Downtown Visions, Wilmington Renaissance Corporation, the Downtown Business Association, the City's Office of Economic Development and Wilmington City Council. For more information, visit mainstreetwilmingtonde.org.
Anteia Consorto contributed to this story.
