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Delray Beach honored as "2017 Playful City USA Community"!

Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - 2:12pm

DELRAY BEACH (May 17, 2017) - The City of Delray Beach is proud to announce that the national non-profit KaBOOM! is honoring the City with a 2017 Playful City USA designation for the second time. Playful City USA honors cities and towns across the country for putting the needs of families first so kids can learn, grow and develop important life skills. These communities are transforming ordinary places into playful spaces and using play as a solution to the challenges facing their residents.

The 2017 Playful City USA recognition includes 258 communities from across the nation that make it as easy as possible for kids to play. In total, these communities feature more than 14,000 safe and engaging playspaces that serve more than 4 million kids.

"The City of Delray Beach is proud to be recognized as a 2017 Playful City USA community," said City of Delray Beach Mayor Cary Glickstein. "The City values the recreational and leisure pursuits of our residents and visitors and currently has 24 playgrounds located within our wonderful park system. In addition to our current play spaces, the City is working together with community partners to expand our play space inventory and will install a fitness park and new boundless playground before the end of the year. The City of Delray Beach is committed to providing quality places for our residents and visitors to "Get Out, Get Up, and Get Active" in our community."

As cities are becoming sources for innovation, communities across the country are creating inventive ways to attract and retain residents. Playful City USA honorees are taking bold action to ensure kids have great places to play - all with the ultimate goal of making play the easy choice for all kids, no matter where they live. In addition to the playground down the street, Playful City USA communities are turning grocery stores, vacant lots, crosswalks and sidewalks into opportunities for play.

"We are thrilled to recognize the City of Delray Beach for putting kids first," said KaBOOM! CEO James Siegal. "The well-being of our communities starts with the well-being of our kids, and play is critical for them to thrive. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all kids get the childhood they deserve filled with play."

To see the full list of Playful City USA communities and to learn more about making play the easy choice for kids, visit kaboom.org/playfulcityusa. You can also take part in the conversation with leaders across the country using #PLAYceforkids on Twitter and Facebook.

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ATLANTIC AVENUE NAMED ONE OF TOP 10 GREAT AMERICAN SHOPPING STREETS BY USA TODAY

Thursday, May 18, 2017 - 5:17pm

Delray Beach, FL (May 2017)…Robert Gibbs, a leading Urban Retail Consultant, named Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach as one of the top 10 great American Shopping Streets in a story for the May 5, 2017 edition of USA Today.  In referencing urban shopping districts, Mr. Gibbs said, “They have what I call the X-Factor of Urbanism. Very cool, historic and filled with interesting shops and restaurants, surrounded with walkable neighborhoods. Vacationers spend more time shopping than on any other vacation activity, making these neighborhoods natural for travelers.”

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) hosted a Property & Business Owner Town Hall Session on April 19, and had Robert Gibbs present “New Trends in Urban Retail Planning and Development.  “We believe the information Mr. Gibbs shared will be a tremendous asset in supporting our current businesses as they continue to grow and succeed, while also providing property owners and developers with professional insight and industry knowledge that will assist their decision making as they attract new tenants Downtown, “ said Laura Simon, Executive Director, DDA.   “This is all part of the DDA’s charter, mission and current strategic plan.  We encourage everyone to view this story at www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/10greatplaces/2017/05/05/shopping-streets-districts/101287158/, as well as Gibbs' April 19th Town Hall presentation which was recorded and is available online at:  www.DowntownDelrayBeach.com/TownHall2017."

 

For more information, please contact the DDA office at 561.243.1077 or DDA@DowntownDelrayBeach.com.

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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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DDA Newsletter - Summer 2017

Wednesday, May 10, 2017 - 10:13am
View Newsletter
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Grand Re-Opening of the New Green Owl Restaurant

Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - 3:22pm

Grand Re-Opening of the New Green Owl Restaurant

Delray Beach's Longstanding Gem  

May 3, 2017

Delray Beach, FL - The Green Owl, a longtime fixture in Downtown Delray Beach, is set to open its doors at the newly built out location at 11 SE 4th Avenue, Delray Beach steps south of Atlantic Avenue, adjacent to future IPic theatre on May 16th at 7:00 am.

The new Green Owl is across the street from the original Green Owl location which has been in business for over 33 years. Dave Gensman, owner/operator of the iconic Green Owl, is excited to show off his new restaurant space to all the locals which have called the Green Owl home.  The new space will feature new kitchen equipment, furnishings, interior design and outdoor patio seating, while still maintaining the "charm" of the Owl with its original owl knickknacks, pictures and paintings.

Menin Development, the owner of the George Buildings, where the former and new Green Owl locations reside, agreed to relocate the Green Owl to the new location calling the Green Owl "a Delray Beach institution".  Menin converted and built out the new restaurant interior and exterior with all the necessary restaurant amenities at its own expense to preserve and ensure the long-term neighborhood restaurant.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Green Owl will be held May 15th at 4 pm and is open to the public. Beginning May 16th, the Green Owl will open its doors for regular business Tuesday thru Saturday 7 am - 2 pm, Sunday 8 am - 1 pm, closed on Monday.

Menin Development, Inc. provides acquisition, development, re-development, leasing and property management services for ‘Class A’ retail and mixed use properties across the U.S. and is headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida.  Menin Development has acquired and developed more than $1 billion of property in South Florida, Phoenix, New Orleans and throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Menin has won design accolades for several of its projects, and its properties are known for their design aesthetic and the relationship between properties and the communities they serve. Menin currently operates in South Florida, Phoenix and New Orleans. For more information, please visit:  www.menin.com

 

To learn more about the Green Owl Grand Re-Opening please contact:

Maura Hopkins

Menin Development, Inc.

561.282.5720 office/fax

maura@menin.com

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South Florida Business Journal names WOO CREATIVE one of South Florida's coolest office spaces!

Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - 10:58am

Cool, retro, fun, funky, vibrate and energized are the words that clients and visitors usually say when describing Woo Creative’s office space is located in Downtown Delray. To reach the 2nd floor 2600 square foot space, you must first climb the staircases-flanked by an urban-style spray art wall featuring an ode to ’80’s iconography. 

It’s always fun to see the fresh décor or newest concept that Ryan Boylston, President & Founder of Woo Creative, adds to the space. “We are located so close to the beach, but we wanted mountains too. That was my inspiration behind the office’s rock climbing wall.”

Working in this unique space allows Woo’s creative associates to conceptualize the best designs and campaigns for its clients. Not only is this space home to the Woo Creative team, but it houses the KTCHN, Delray Beach’s first coworking space for local entrepreneurs.

Last week, Woo Creative, was nominated as one of the top 10 coolest office spaces by South Florida Business Journal. This is an honor to be nominated as they receive many submissions each year. They are up against HUGE companies that hired well-known architects and interior designers to design their space.

Woo Creative is one of two companies nominated in Palm Beach County. This is a significant step for small businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups but most of all the community of Delray Beach. It is clear to see that the landscape is definitely changing. Delray Beach is attracting more young professionals, entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Woo needs the help of the community to bring the prize home. Vote for Woo Creative at votewoo.com.

Need a quick tour of the space? Check out Woo’s crib here.

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