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For Our Merchants

For Our Merchants

This page is a resource for all of our Downtown merchants. It is meant to help our merchants stay engaged and up-to-date on everything going on Downtown, such as new programming or marketing opportunities, economic development initiatives, holiday or special event notices and other pertinent information that will help our business owners and managers be successful. On this page, you will find a practical guide for doing business Downtown, information on who to call for various topics or concerns, our quarterly newsletters and information on new parking programs, such as the employee parking program that is being finalized and tested this summer. Thank you for choosing Downtown Delray Beach for your business! We are looking forward to working with you. 

The DDA 2019-20 Annual Report is available!

Downtown is our City’s meeting place and the symbolic heart of our community where many areas of activity are represented. Downtown is a thriving business center; a fun & vibrant retail center; a cosmopolitan residential center, where residents enjoy living as a part of the rich energy of urban life; and an ethnically and generationally diverse community.

Distributed to property owners, business owners and residents within the DDA’s district, the Report details the Position Marketing, Placemaking, and Economic Development activities from the past year and also provides a snapshot into 2019-20.  

Also, the DDA has created a video about who we are, what we do, and how we can help you. Click here to view.

2021 Getaway Guide to Downtown Delray Beach Now Available - Click Here

Annual Downtown Property & Business Owner Town Hall Session: 2017 RECAP

Robert J. Gibbs delivered a riveting presentation at our annual Town Hall Meeting on April 19, 2017, at the Delray Beach Marriott, with valuable research & recommendations for our Downtown Business & Property Owners as well as our city's decision-makers. "New Trends in Urban Retail Planning and Development" by the featured speaker, Robert J. Gibbs, AICP, ASLA, CNU-A, President, Gibbs Planning Group was recorded & is available online. Click here to watch the presentation.

 

 

Downtown Merchant & Business Association (DMBA): Upcoming Meetings 

The Downtown Merchant & Business Association consists of restaurants, businesses, and retail owners or operators from the Downtown (DDA) district (I-95 to the beach and within Pineapple Grove area as well as South of Atlantic). If you are a Downtown business owner or operator within the District, you are welcome to join the DMA free of cost. 

DMBA Purpose:

To provide a forum for the downtown businesses to collaborate on programs, communicate amongst the organization and community, and be a collective voice that advocates for activities that promote the retention and smart growth of the downtown business community.  

Business Intake Form 

Click here to fill out the Downtown Business Intake Form for DDA record-keeping purposes and to ensure that you are included in all of our listings, marketing, programming opportunities, and outreach efforts. This form is for merchants in the Downtown District only. If you are unsure of whether or not your business is within the Downtown District borders, please contact the DDA office at 561.243.1077. Please send your completed forms to DDA@DowntownDelrayBeach.com.

DowntownDelrayBeach.com Website

All merchants within the Downtown District receive a full merchant landing page on the website for Downtown Delray Beach. Merchants can upload photos, videos, promotions, events and so much more to their merchant landing page. This site also offers enhanced visibility & searchability for all of our Downtown merchants. Additionally, it has a mobile-friendly & responsive design!

Website visitors can search for your business by:

•Categories of business or interest
•Keywords
•Neighborhoods within the Downtown District (i.e. Pineapple Grove,  The West Atlantic Neighborhood, Beachside, SOFA [South of Atlantic], US1 and Arts & Entertainment).
 
Click here to view the Website Features Presentation & Login Instructions.

If you haven't received your website login information for your merchant landing page, please contact the DDA office at 561.243.1077 or DDA@DowntownDelrayBeach.com.

Business Profile Videos for Downtown Merchants

The Downtown Development Authority is proud to partner with VUP Media in offering this unique and affordable business profile video package for our Downtown Merchants (within the DDA District). Take advantage of increased exposure to potential customers, by marketing your business everywhere!

We have been able to leverage this opportunity for you at an extremely cost-efficient price point of only $425 per video profile (a $2,500 value). Each business profile includes an on-location HD shoot of your business, HD post-production editing, business profile video (up to 2 minutes in length).

Business Profiles Can Be Used For • Your business' website • On DowntownDelrayBeach.com, the DDA's Facebook Page & Youtube Channel, increasing your exposure! • For tradeshows • Hotels (looped video) • In-Store Displays • Through your business' social media, blog, & email marketing channels

Click here to view details & pricing.

Click here to view existing Business Profile videos.

If you are interested in having a Business Profile video created for your business, please contact the DDA Office at 561.243.1077 or DDA@DowntownDelrayBeach.com.

CodeRED Emergency Notification System

The city of Delray Beach has implemented an emergency notification system to provide critical information to residents and businesses in emergencies.

The CodeRED system, capable of placing sixty thousand calls per hour, can call all persons registered with the service or just those located within an affected area, making up to three attempts to reach each number.

The system is only activated in emergencies.  Examples of why you might be called are:

  • Evacuation orders and instructions

  • Boil water orders

  • Warnings of bomb threats, chemical spills, or gas leaks

  • Missing person alerts

  • Reports of criminal activities in or near your area

Click here to register & learn more. 

The 9th Annual Savor the Avenue - Reservations are now OPEN!

Thursday, February 2, 2017 - 2:54pm

9th ANNUAL SAVOR THE AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN DELRAY BEACH

TIME TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS!

 

Delray Beach, FL (February 1, 2017)… It is time to make your reservations for the 9th annual Savor the Avenue on Monday, March 27th at 5:30 p.m. !  Tickets are on sale now for this amazing evening of dining under the stars—and down the double yellow line of famed Atlantic Avenue—at the food and wine event of the year. Join hundreds of guests—and 16 of Downtown Delray’s finest restaurants—at Florida’s longest dining table, one that runs more than five blocks and 1,300 feet long stretching from Swinton Avenue east to Fifth Avenue (U.S. 1). This is the event you don’t want to miss! 

This year’s participating restaurants are: 32 East, 50 Ocean, Cabana El Rey, Caffe Luna Rosa, Che!!!, City Oyster & Sushi Bar, Cut 432, Lemongrass, Max’s Harvest, Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen, Rack’s Fish House & Oyster Bar, Rocco’s Tacos, ROK:BRGR, Salt 7, The Office, and Vic & Angelo’s. Each 4-course dinner is paired with select libations. The menus can be viewed at downtowndelraybeach.com/SavortheAvenue and bocamag.com/savor.  Reservations are made with the restaurants directly, and seating is limited. 

Savor the Avenue is a Delray Beach culinary tradition made possible by Delray Beach Magazine’s partnership with the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and is a way of showcasing the collection of fine dining establishments located within the downtown area. The DDA is pleased to announce that restaurants will donate $3 from each reservation at Savor the Avenue to the Delray Beach Public Library.  This year, in addition to the judging panel, there will also be a People’s Choice Award granted to the restaurant with the best table décor. Be sure to vote for your favorite Savor the Avenue tablescape by uploading a picture of the best table to Facebook or Instagram, using #SavorPeoplesChoice and checking in to or tagging the restaurant name.

Presented by: Delray Beach Magazine, Boca Raton Magazine, Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority

Thank you to our 2017 sponsors: JM Lexus, 111 First Delray, Atlas Party Rental, Delray Garden Center, GRIMES Events & Party Tents and Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

Reservations begin February 1st and last day to reserve your seat is March 24.  For information and menus please visit downtowndelraybeach.com/SavortheAvenue and bocamag.com/savor, or call 561.243.1077. #SavorTheAvenue

 

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About the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority mission is to enhance and stimulate balanced economic growth through position marketing activities that engage Downtown Businesses, residents and visitors, while creating a clean, safe, physical and experiential place to live, work and invest.  For more information, please visit www.downtowndelraybeach.com or phone 561.243.1077.

 

 

Media Contact:

Sarah E. Flynn - Willcaro Communications LLC

561.866.5064 - sarahf@willcarocomm.com

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DELRAY BEACH FASHION WEEK HITS DOWNTOWN

Thursday, December 29, 2016 - 9:57am

COUTURE IS PART OF OUR CULTURE IN DOWNTOWN DELRAY, AND THIS IS NEVER MORE TRUE THAN DURING FASHION WEEK, WHEN THE CITY COMES ALIVE WITH STYLE, JANUARY 25-29, 2017!

Celebrate spectacular fashion, local designers, art and beauty at the 4th annual Delray Beach Fashion Week created by the Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown merchants.  The local designs and diverse fashions will take center stage at the fashion runway events, designer showcase, fashion luncheon, Stiletto Race, and for the first time a Boutique Pop Up Shopping Event. 

“We are thrilled to be hosting this award winning and special event again this year, “ said Laura Simon, Executive Director, DDA. Delray Beach Fashion Week is a unique, fun and all-encompassing opportunity to share with our local residents and visitors the fashion and beauty that is found right here in Downtown Delray Beach.”

A highlight of Delray Beach Fashion Week is “Delray on the Runway.”  The January 26th event at Il Bacio invites guests to dress for a “white party,” and includes a runway show, reception, and silent auction.  The event features local Downtown Delray Beach Designers: Jules Guaglardi – Roxy LuLu; Stephanie Graniero – Oh My Bod; Arianne Brown - Ramona LaRue; Glavidia Alexis – Glavidia Hair Studios; Jully Ortega - The Sandy Shoppe; Bill DeBilzan - DeBilzan Gallery; Amanda Perna - The House of Perna. 

Events will take place throughout Downtown Delray Beach and many are free to the public.  Tickets for the Delray Beach Designer Show, Fashion Luncheon, and runway seats at the fashion shows can be purchased at each event.  Raffle tickets will be included with each event ticket purchased and will also be available for $5.  The raffle prize package valued at $1,000 includes:  a 2 night/3 day hotel stay; spa, restaurant and retail gift certificates; tickets to Old School Square events and Delray Yacht Cruises.  All event and raffle tickets sold throughout Delray Beach Fashion Week benefit the Achievement Centers for Children and Families.

2017 Delray Beach Fashion Week Highlights

Events details will be updated on DelrayFashionWeek.com. Tickets are available for purchase. 

As of 12.29.2016

 

Wednesday, January 25 - “An Evening in Downtown”

6 p.m.:  Art Invitational – Downtown Artists/Gallery Showcase

7 p.m. : Entertainment and “Hair and Evening Wear” Runway Show

On Atlantic Avenue in front of The Colony Hotel at 525 E. Atlantic Ave

The launch of Delray Beach Fashion Week.  Free event, with $25 ticketed runway seating.

 

Thursday, January 26 - “Delray on the Runway”

7 p.m. - IL Bacio/PRIME – 29 SE 2nd Ave

Fashion show featuring the Downtown Delray Beach designers, reception, silent auction, Guest Host - Amanda Perna of Project Runway, and guests invited to dress in white. 

Tickets: $40.

 

Friday, January 27 - “Tropical Paradise”

11:30am-1pm – Che!!! – 900 E. Atlantic Ave

“Tropical Paradise” Resort Wear Fashion Show and Luncheon

Tickets: $35

 

Friday, January 27 - Stiletto Race

6 p.m. – SE 4th Ave & Atlantic Ave.

Stiletto Race hosted by Vince Canning Shoes

Register: delraystilettorace.com.  $25 advance, $35 at event

 

Saturday, January 28 – “Swim & Surf”

7 p.m. - Old School Square Park @ NE 2nd Ave.

Swim & Surf Finale Runway Fashion Show, Guest Host - Suzanne Boyd, WPEC News12; entertainment by Spider Cherry.

Free event, with $25 ticketed runway seating.

 

Sunday, January 29 - Fashion Week Boutique Pop Up Shopping

1 p.m.  – 4 p.m. - Old School Square Fieldhouse – 51 N. Swinton Ave.

Fashion Week Boutique Pop Up Shopping event for customers to see and purchase items shown during Delray Beach Fashion Week.

2017 Sponsors

Delray Beach Fashion Week would not be possible without the support from our sponsors. A big thank you to: Platinum Sponsor - Menin Development Inc.; Gold Sponsors - VUP Media, Grimes Events & Party Tents Silver Sponsors - Swatches & Rags,  Ed Morse Cadillac, Victoria DeSilvio Group, Rosenthal Cosmetics & Plastic Surgery; Silver Media Sponsors - LivingFLA; Bronze Sponsors - Park View Realty; Posh Properties; Monkey In Paradise Vodka, Parisi Events, Iceberg Vodka, Cockspur Rum, DJ Moonray, DJ C Money; Media - Delray Beach Magazine, Delray Newspaper, LOCAL Magazine; Venue Sponsors - Silver: Il Bacio/PRIME, The Colony Hotel & Cabana Club; and Venue Sponsor - Bronze: Che!!!, Restaurant VIP Tent Sponsors: Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, Papa's Tapas, Big Al's Steaks, Mussel Beach

 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR FASHION WEEK COMMITTEE!

A special thank you to the Fashion Week committee for their effort and time to put the shows/week together.
We also thank the models and the Johnson and Wales students for volunteering their talent and time.

HAIR SALON CO-CHAIRS: MaryAnn Brown, In the Grove Hair Studio and Glavidia Alexis, Glavidia Hair Studios & Glavidia: by Glavidia Alexis | MODEL CHAIR: Jule Guaglardi, Roxy LuLu | COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Margaret Doerrer, Margaux Riviera, Jelena Lovric, LoveRich Boutique, Jully Ortega, Purstrands & The Sandy Shoppe

For more information and event details or to purchase tickets (tickets are available now!), please visit www.DelrayFashionWeek.com, facebook.com/DelrayFashion, #DELRAYFASHIONWEEK, or phone: 561.243.1077.

 

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About the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority mission is to enhance and stimulate balanced economic growth through position marketing activities that engage Downtown Businesses, residents and visitors, while creating a clean, safe, physical and experiential place to live, work and invest.  For more information, please visit www.downtowndelraybeach.com or phone 561.243.1077.

 

 

Media Contact:

Sarah E. Flynn - Willcaro Communications LLC

561.866.5064 - sarahf@willcarocomm.com

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CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS IN DOWNTOWN DELRAY BEACH

Wednesday, November 30, 2016 - 1:48pm

SHOPPING, WINDOW DECORATING CONTEST, ART WALK & MORE

Delray Beach, FL (November 30, 2016)… Join us in the spirit of this magical season! Downtown Delray Beach is the place to be for the holidays with shopping, dining, entertainment and fun for all.  Stroll through the beautifully decorated neighborhoods, view festive windows, shop for the perfect gift, experience the First Friday Art Walk with our galleries and studios, be dazzled by the 100ft Christmas tree, see a movie on the green, music, parades, and more.  “The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and merchants welcome you Downtown for the holidays, said Laura Simon, Executive Director. We are proud to provide financial support once again for the 100ft Christmas Tree, and encourage you to visit the restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, and salons & spas throughout our neighborhoods: THE SET, The Ave, Pineapple Grove, SOFA, US 1 and Beachside.”

Here are a few highlights:

Window Decorating Contest • December 1, 2016

The Downtown Merchant & Business Association and DDA are hosting a Window Decorating Contest, and businesses downtown are creating festive displays in their windows and throughout their stores. Be sure to see them all beginning December 1st. Winners will be announced December 14th for Most Creative, Most Festive, Most Delray and Best Overall.

First Friday Art Walk • December 2, 2016

Special Features:

  • 3 - 5 p.m. Plein Air Paintings by Ralph Papa on exhibition at the Delray Beach Public Library (2nd Floor Gallery). Enjoy a meet & greet with the artist from 3-5 p.m. Parking is free at the Library!     

  • 5:00 p.m. (presentation to begin at 5:15 p.m.) Unveiling of THE SET mural at the Delray Tennis Center (the mural is on the wall fronting NW 3rd Avenue). 

  • 6pm – 9pm: Each Art Walk is a self-guided tour with the participation of 28 galleries and artists, special exhibits, offerings and promotions.  Stroll Artists Alley (NE 3rd Ave @ NE 4th St), Pineapple Grove (NE 2nd Avenue), and Atlantic Avenue.  This is a FREE event just show up and start wherever you like!  Art Walk Brochure & Map, along with 12/2 Art Walk Specials, available at DowntownDelrayBeach.com/FirstFridayArtWalk.

Light Up Downtown:

  • Gold starfish lined with red twinkle lights adorn the light poles along Atlantic Avenue from I-95 to A1A;
  • Twinkle lights and holiday decorations adorn the Libby Wesley Plaza at SW 5th Ave and Atlantic Avenue;
  • 26 Holiday wreath displays on the NW and SW 5th Ave. light poles;
  • Pineapple painter palette displays on the light poles along Pineapple Grove Way;
  • Twinkle lights and garland festoon the Delray Beach Pavilion, and the Visitor Information Center at Atlantic Avenue and A1A;
  • A beautiful Sphere Tree beachside at Atlantic Avenue and A1A, brought to you by: The Delray Beach DDA, Marriott Residence Inn, Boston’s On the Beach and Café Luna Rosa.

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Holiday Events Downtown

  • The 100 Ft. Christmas Tree Lighting is December 1st from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. on the grounds of Old School Square & E. Atlantic Ave. The lighting will take place at 7:15 p.m.

For a complete listing of events and details please visit DowntownDelrayBeach.com/Events or phone 561.243.1077.

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5 Safety Tips for the South Florida Summer

Friday, August 5, 2016 - 5:50pm

The City of Delray Beach and the Downtown Development Authority are dedicated to keeping our city, and Downtown Delray, clean and safe. Keep safety top of mind by downloading the CodeRED Mobile Alert app. This app sends out the latest safety and weather alerts in your area using your phone or tablet’s GPS and your customized settings. In the throes of summer is it easy to forget the many basics that help to keep you, and your families safe. Read on to learn our top 5 tips for a safe summer in South Florida. 

  1. Stay Hydrated – The scorching Florida heat can quickly take its toll, especially on young children and senior citizens. Many times the recommended 8 glasses a day are just not enough. We suggest investing in a reusable water bottle that you can keep with you at all times. If you notice you have suddenly stopped sweating or begin to feel dizzy, drink water immediately and find a cool place to rest.
  2. Apply & Re-Apply Sunscreen & Bug Spray – It’s a great habit to apply Sunscreen each morning but many times it is easy to forget to reapply when enjoying the summer sun. Sunscreen protects you from the harmful UVA & UVB rays and decreases the development of skin cancer. Besides those pesky bites, mosquitoes can also carry harmful diseases. Residents and visitors are urged to apply bug spray regularly and avoid stagnant bodies of water.
  3. Use Designated Cross Walks & Rail Road Crossings – Even in summer, Atlantic Avenue is bustling. To ensure the safety of yourself and others, use only the designated cross walks and Rail Road crossings. When you are behind the wheel, do not speed and be cautious of pedestrians.
  4. Be Aware of Your Surroundings – A good rule of thumb is that if you SEE something, SAY something. Delray Beach PD can be found throughout the downtown and in case of suspicious activity be sure to call the Police Department non-emergency number at 561.243.7800. In the case of a life threatening emergency call 911. It is important to remember to park in a well lit area, remove all valuables from your vehicle and lock your car at all times.
  5. Make Your Hurricane Preparedness Plan – With the height of hurricane season in full effect, make sure you and your families have a plan for an incoming storm. Ensure you know the closest evacuation routes in your area and fill up your gas tank days before a storm is set to arrive. To guarantee you are not scrambling for last minute supplies, keep your pantry stocked with at least 1 gallon per day/per person for at least 3 to 5 days. Make sure your batteries, flashlights and candles are in a designated area where all family members can find them even in the event of a power outage.

Click here to learn more about hurricane preparedness. 

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Introducing Dine Out Downtown Delray Restaurant Week this August 1-7, 2016 – Be Involved!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016 - 3:53pm

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority is excited to announce the inaugural Dine Out Downtown Delray Restaurant Week, August 1-7, 2016. The Downtown Development Authority, committed to marketing the merchants within the DDA district, created Dine Out Downtown Delray to showcase the diverse dining scene, energetic vibe and creative culinary experiences offered in Downtown Delray Beach during the summer season - a tropical and leisurely time of year in South Florida.

The DDA’s Mission is to enhance and stimulate balanced economic growth through position marketing activities that engage Downtown businesses, residents and visitors. Through our merchant programming, we have created various events that showcase our Downtown merchants. Programs like Dine Out Downtown Delray Restaurant Week, Delray Beach Fashion Week, Savor the Avenue, and the First Friday Art Walk support the DDA’s mission to enhance and stimulate economic growth in the Downtown community.

Restaurant Week customers will enjoy prix fixe lunches and dinners along with special Dine Out deals and a series of culinary events & classes throughout the week at participating Downtown restaurants. This program will be advertised and marketed in Miami-Dade, Broward & Palm Beach Counties through several targeted platforms such as, online/web (through the DDA’s DowntownDelrayBeach.com website, purchased media placements, email marketing, etc.), purchased print placements, PR/press releases, blogging, and video/digital signage at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). We invite you to participate in this new and exciting week-long program.

Become a Restaurant Week Participant:

Participating restaurants and food establishments must offer one or more of the following promotions* August 1 – August 7, 2016:

-Dine Out Deals: $10 and under
-Three-Course Prix Fixe Lunches: $20 and under per person
-Three-Course Prix Fixe Dinners: $20 - $40 per person
-Culinary Experience or Event throughout the week: prices vary by restaurant

*Pricing does not include tax or gratuity.

How to Take Part (for the consumer): Reservations will be strongly encouraged & will be made directly through the participating restaurants & merchants. No passes, tickets or coupons will be issued.

Charitable Partner: Healthy Bellies - Healthy Bellies, a program of the Delray Beach Achievement Center, was founded by DADA Executive Chef Bruce Feingold and his wife, Amanda. Healthy Bellies is committed to community outreach and education focusing on nutrition for under privileged children and families in Delray Beach. Participating restaurants are encouraged to support this organization and attendees will have an opportunity to make a contribution as well during Restaurant Week. A suggested $100 donation to Healthy Bellies is encouraged.

Click here to participate. Please send your completed Participation Form to DDA@DowntownDelrayBeach.com.

 

Become a Restaurant Week Sponsor:

There are three sponsorship levels available for this year’s Dine Out Downtown Delray Restaurant Week, each of which provide multi-channel brand exposure for partnering brands.

Click here to view the branding visibility & opportunities at each sponsorship level.

For additional information on sponsorship opportunities, call the DDA Office at 561.243.1077 or email DDA@DowntownDelrayBeach.com.

We look forward to partnering with you!

 

Current 2016 Restaurant Week Sponsors:

VUP Media – Silver Level Sponsor

Atlantic One – Bronze Level Sponsor

Delray Newspaper – Media Sponsor

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