PRESS RELEASE: Black Restaurant Week to Premier in Wilmington
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Black Restaurant Week to Premier in Wilmington
Event is being held to recognize and support Black-owned businesses
The Mayor’s Office and Wilmington City Council are pleased to present the City’s inaugural Black Restaurant Week (BRW), which will begin Saturday, September 16 and continue through Sunday, September 24. The City is presenting this event as an opportunity to showcase the diversity and richness of Black culinary culture while supporting local Wilmington businesses. Mayor Mike Purzycki and City Council President Trippi Congo said today that BRW is an opportunity to celebrate the community contributions of Black-owned restaurants.
Visit www.WilmingtonDE.gov/blackrestaurantweek to learn more about Black Restaurant Week and the participating Black-owned restaurants and food services.
“BRW is a great opportunity to learn more about the cultural history of Black foodways in Wilmington,” said Mayor Purzycki. “As a unique and inclusive week-long event, BRW will feature Black-owned food vendors, take-out restaurants, casual dining restaurants, food trucks, and fine dining establishments. I urge everyone to support these businesses, which are an integral part of our City’s history as well as its diverse and growing food scene.”
“I’m extremely excited that we’re bringing Black Restaurant Week to Wilmington,” said City Council President Trippi Congo. “It’s important that we all promote and support local, Black owned businesses, and in this case, restaurants, not only this week, but year-round. As our City continues its rapid growth, it’s imperative that we include all business owners, especially our Black and Brown entities. I am honored and look forward to spearheading this and other endeavors to make our City more inclusive.”
Black Restaurant Week Kick-off Event and HBCU Partnership
A two-part FREE BRW kick-off event will begin at 1 p.m. this Saturday, September 16, 2023, at the Grand on Market Street. A variety of Black culinary offerings will be presented. At 3 p.m. a panel discussion will begin entitled “Foodways & Folklore: A Community Conversation,” which will be moderated by national award-winning folklorist Queen Nur. The owners of Wilmington restaurants Drop Squad Kitchen, Keem’s Cuisine, and Oath 84 will discuss how Black, African American, and Caribbean American culinary arts have sustained and revitalized communities in Wilmington.
This inaugural BRW event will offer food lovers multiple ways to support participating businesses. A crucial component of BRW is its alignment with Wilmington’s HBCU Week, which runs from September 17 to September 24. Many regional and locally based individuals will participate in HBCU events during this period, which will enable participating BRW food businesses to gain wider recognition.
BRW Food Trucks will be present at or near the following events during Wilmington HBCU Week:
- Wednesday, September 20, 2023, R & B Night at the Queen at 5th and Market Streets at 7 pm
- Thursday, September 21, 2023, Social Justice Conversation at the Wilmington Library on West 10th Street at 6pm
- Saturday, September 23, 2023, Block Party from Noon to 5 p.m. at DECO on West 10th Street.
BRW Passport Challenge Contest Details
Those who visit 10 or more BRW sites can enter the passport challenge for a chance to win a $25 gift card. To participate, pick up a BRW Passport at participating restaurants, vendors, or food trucks. Take a picture of the stamped passport and upload it to your social media accounts using #WilmBRW with Wilmington City Council and City of Wilmington tagged. You must submit your passport with 10 stamps or more by October 1 to BRWPassportChallenge@WilmingtonDE.gov.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES:Yesenia TaverasDirector of Communications, Wilmington City CouncilOffice: (302)576-2585Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.govCity Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com