Shopping Downtown

Ditto for 2008. Today as then, you can meander downtown along the streets in Wilmington’s Historic District to browse the art galleries and small shops. Most of the stores are independently owned and feature out-of-the-ordinary merchandise. Antiques and vintage clothing, crafts including wood carvings, pottery, wall hangings, original art, candles, aromatherapy, beachwear, books and jewelry…you’ll be fascinated by the variety, and you won’t get bored, that’s for sure.

Front Street, Water Street, Market Street and several side streets are still the best shopping places. Although you can easily walk the circuit, if you tire, take the air-conditioned Front Street Free Trolley, which runs continuously from 7:30 a.m. to 9:20 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 9:20 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. You can get on or off at marked stops along the way. The entire trip takes about 20 minutes. From Ann Street and Chandler’s Wharf on the south end of the Riverwalk to the Cotton Exchange at the northern end, you’ll have more than enough places to explore in an afternoon.

The shops at Chandler’s Wharf, a renovated 19th Century river wharf building, have changed over time, but the charming ambiance remains – the cobblestone street, picket fences and historical old buildings along the river. An ad in our 1983 book touts 17 shops, restaurants, a body and hair salon, and a nautical museum. Imported delicacies, wine, cheeses, Christmas and holiday items, counted cross stitch supplies, fine china and silver, classic ladies’ and children’s clothing, original art, gourmet cookware, scented soaps, custom design floral arrangements, distinctive interiors and home accessories were there.

Several shops, a tea room and a gourmet café now occupy a trendy strip along the Riverwalk adjacent to Chandler’s Wharf. Stemmerman’s gracious restaurant, once a cornerstone of the Chandler’s Wharf scene, is no longer in business, but wonderful restaurants remain downtown.

Along the way, be sure to go into The Old Wilmington City Market for a shopping adventure to remember. The building itself is worth the visit. Built in 1879, the block-long brick and stucco arcade houses kiosks, specialty shops and boutiques offering wonderful treasures, exotic woods, plants, jewelry, clothing and works by local artists.