WDI Weekly Newsletter
February 11, 2022
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CraftGrown Farms grows hydroponic lettuce, leafy greens, and microgreens, offering fresh produce in the heart of the Castle Street Arts and Antique District. The greens are grown by owner and operator Randall Rhyne, who has a mission to be a source of high-quality, highly-nutritious produce, addressing the area’s food gaps. Ultimately, CraftGrown wants to help people eat and live better by providing the best produce year-round.
Rhyne crafts special blends of microgreens, as well as broccoli, sunflower, chives, basil, and sugar pea, all with a burst of flavor unique to CraftGrown Farms.
Shopping at this Castle Street business is an experience of its own. Rhyne offers tasting tours to customers to find their favorite greens to take home. Trips to the shop are by appointment only but maybe be scheduled throughout the week. CraftGrown’s products also make it into dishes at local restaurants like Floriana Wilmington, The Kitchen Sink, and Eternal Sunshine Cafe.
Rhyne, a staff sergeant with the Army Reserve, created his produce business in 2017, first starting in Richmond and later focusing on microgreens and hydroponics with CraftGrown Farms following his move to Wilmington in July 2020. CraftGrown Farms has been on Castle Street for nearly two years. Rhyne chose the Castle Street District for the building, which was ideal for his hydroponic business. Make an appointment and try some microgreens today!
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If you're an artist, musician, or have a business downtown and would like to be featured in an upcoming WDI SPOTLIGHT, please contact us via email at office@wilmingtondowntown.com.
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Get a $1,500 check as part of
WDI's Microloan Assistance Grant Program!
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Citrus Salon is one of several businesses in the downtown area to receive a Microloan Assistance Grant through WDI after closing on a Microloan. This salon is located at
262 N. Water St., inside the River Place development.
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Wilmington Downtown, iNC is encouraging businesses to apply to its Microloan Program before interest rates go up next month.
Right now, a business approved for a loan as part of WDI's Microloan Program can receive up to a $20,000 loan at 3/4 of the New York Prime rate. At this time, that rate is about 2.44%. The loan rate is fixed on the date of closing.
WDI is also awarding $1,500 grant checks to the first 15 businesses that close on a Microloan. These checks are made possible through a $25,000 award to WDI from the Duke Energy Foundation's Hometown Revitalization Grant Program.
The grant funding from Duke Energy is being utilized in WDI's Microloan Assistance Grant (MAG) Program.
Money paid back to the WDI Microloan Program goes back into a funding pool to assist other businesses with the necessary financial capital they need to start up, grow or expand.
WDI has developed this financial assistance program to directly support entrepreneurs and incentivize small business investment.
Businesses inside and beyond the traditional downtown footprint in the Central Businesses District (CBD) can apply for the program. The WDI Microloan Program is aimed to help existing small businesses weather the impacts of COVID and attract new businesses to start in the CBD and the City's seven emerging districts.
Our emerging districts are: Brooklyn Arts, Cargo, Castle Street, North Waterfront, Northside, South Front, and Soda Pop districts.
WDI has joined with Civic Federal Credit Union as the underwriter for this lending program.
WDI manages the intake for this program, while Civic Federal Credit Union manages the lending and review of businesses’ sensitive financial information.
Microloans facilitate business spending on eligible expenditures, including purchasing inventory, paying up to 3 months of rent, buying furniture, making equipment purchases and repairs, and adding/expanding e-commerce capabilities.
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Satellite Bar and Lounge was the first to open in the district, inside a beautifully renovated brick building. Dustin Ricks, owner of both establishments, saw great potential locating in the South Front community and in the 1940s building, which started as a grocery store.
This rustic bar and lounge features open spaces, a large outdoor seating area and was built with some salvaged and repurposed materials from the original structure. Guests to Satellite can select from over 250 beers, spirits, vodkas, wines, and tequilas!
It was the success of this bar and difficulty keeping an ongoing rotation of food trucks that motivated the owners to later open Block Taco. This neighborhood taco joint is a complement to the bar and lounge, serving locally sourced food with ingredients from hometown names, including Seaview Crab Company, Terra Vita Farms, and Wholesome Greens.
Block Taco serves a select menu of dishes such as carnitas and carne asada and has vegetarian options.
Satellite hosts live music events, including bluegrass every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Block Taco hosts a local farmers market once a month, providing visitors and residents of the district with a way to source their own local ingredients.
Next time you’re in South Front District, grab a sip and a bite from these two great downtown establishments!
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Thalian Association Community Theatre has announced the return of the Orange Street ArtsFest to Wilmington.
Orange Street ArtsFest 2022 will be held Memorial Day weekend, May 28-29, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 S. Second St. The festival also will be located on Orange Street and on Second Street.
Applicants must submit a color photo of original work in acrylic, oils, watercolor, sculpture, drawing, graphics, wearable arts, leather jewelry, clay, glass, fiber, metalwork, or mixed media. Photographically or commercially reproduced work is also acceptable in limited editions, signed and numbered by the artist.
An early-bird discount fee of $135 will be offered until March 1, with registration being $150 after until all spaces are filled. Click here to apply!
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February 12
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Live at Teds's
2 Castle St.
February 12
4:00 - 5:30 PM
Terra Sol Sancutary
507 Castle St.
February 15
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Flytrap Brewing
319 Walnut St.
February 18
6:00 PM
Genesis Block
20 Wrights Aly Wilmington
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February 11-12
7:00 PM and 9:30 PM
Dead Crow Comedy Room
511 N. Third St.
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February 12 and 19
10:00 AM
Cape Fear Museum
814 Market St.
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February 12
1:00 - 7:00 PM
721 Surry St.
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February 12
10:00 - 4:00 PM
Cape Fear Museum
814 Market St.
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Register today for the WAHA Luncheon!
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WAHA is a member-based organization serving the region's hospitality industry, including many downtown businesses. The organization holds bimonthly luncheons as an opportunity to hear from industry-related speakers. The event is open to WAHA members and non-members.
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Show starts at 6:00 PM, March 11
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Show starts at
6:00 PM, March 27
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Show starts at
6:00 PM,
March 31
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Show starts at
7:00 PM, April 2
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Show starts at
6:00 PM, Apr. 13
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Show starts at 6:00 PM, April 14
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Show starts at
7:00 PM, April 15
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Show starts at
7:00 PM, April 16
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Show starts at
6:00 PM, Apr. 21
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Show starts at
6:00 PM,
April 26-27
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Show starts at
6:00 PM, Apr. 28
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Show starts at 6:00 PM, May 1
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Show starts at
6:00 PM, May 16
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Show starts at 7:00 PM,
May 20
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Show starts at
7:00 PM,
May 21
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Show starts at 6:00 PM,
May 24
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Show starts at
7:00 PM,
April 12
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Show starts at 7:30 PM, May 17
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Show starts at
8:00 PM,
May 22
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Show starts at
7:00 PM, June 4
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Show Starts at
7:00 PM, Jul. 15
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Show starts at
7:00 PM, Sep. 3
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Show starts at
8:00 PM, Sep. 16
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Show starts at
7:30 PM, Sep. 21
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Show Starts at
7:00 PM, Feb. 23
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Show starts at
6:00 PM, Feb. 25
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Show starts at
7:00 PM, Mar. 11
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Show starts at
2:00 PM, May 15
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Show starts at 7:30 PM, Feb. 19
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Show starts at
4:00 PM, Feb. 20
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Show starts at
7:30 PM, Mar. 15
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Show starts at
7:30 PM, Apr. 2
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Show starts at
4:00 PM, Apr. 3
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Show starts at
7:30 PM, Apr. 11
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Show starts at 7:30 PM,
Feb. 10-12 & 18-20
3:00 PM, Feb. 13 & 20
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Shows Feb. 18-27 starting at 7:30 PM, Fri. & Sat.
2:00 PM, Sat. & Sun.
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Show starts at 7:00 PM,
Feb. 21-22
4:00 PM & 7:00 PM, Feb. 23
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Show starts at
7:30 PM, Feb. 24th
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226 North Front Street, Suite 130
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 998-7744
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