Where to Shop in Wilmington, Delaware

Part of the Brandywine Valley, which it shares with neighboring Pennsylvania, Wilmington, Delaware, is a small destination in a small state — but it manages to pack a big personality and a lot of history within its small footprint.

Beyond offering a bevy of interesting museums and historical sites for visitors to peruse, as well as lots of outdoor attractions and great restaurants and watering holes, Wilmington also offers some stellar shopping options. This is, in part, thanks to the lack of sales tax all over the state. When you shop in Delaware, you save.

So, if you’re planning an upcoming trip to the Brandywine Valley or Wilmington, Delaware, region, here are a few ways to enjoy the shopping scene.

1. Visit a Gallery and Pick Out a New Favorite Piece of Art

There’s just something about visiting a gallery in a new destination and discovering a beautiful piece of art that speaks to you. If you can take that piece of art home, even better. Luckily, for all those traveling art connoisseurs, Wilmington offers an array of galleries worth visiting.

The Helen May Glickenstein Contemporary Art Gallery is open by appointment only, but if you do make an appointment, you’ll find a range of art from various contemporary artists, and not only art, but art products and jewelry, too. MKT Place Gallery in downtown Wilmington features local artists and rotating exhibits; it’s right in the center of things, so makes an easy stop as you’re exploring the area. The LaFate Gallery is also a good choice, named for, and featuring the art of, Wilmington resident and Most Influential Delawarean of 2020, Eunice LaFate.

Photo courtesy of https://www.visitwilmingtonde.com/listing/helen-ma...

2. Add a New Item to Your Wardrobe

If fashion is more your favorite art form, you’ll find unique independent clothing and accessory boutiques throughout Wilmington as well. Town & Shore Handcrafted is a centrally-located boutique offering high-end leatherwork, including handbags, shoes and other apparel. Morgan’s of Delaware offers women’s fashions for special occasions.

3. Find More at Once, with These Malls and Marketplaces

If you love shopping somewhere that boasts a lot of storefronts in one small space, you’ll want to visit one (or all!) of Wilmington’s malls or marketplaces. For starters, there’s Concord Mall and Riverfront Market.

Concord Mall is Delaware’s second-largest shopping mall, located just north of Wilmington. It offers a range of favorite, nationally-recognized retailers, alongside restaurants and local vendors. Riverfront Market meanwhile, sits on Wilmington’s waterfront, within a historic warehouse. This is one place where you’ll want to come hungry, as the market is filled with food vendors selling everything from sandwiches to seafood, pizza to produce.

Photo courtesy of https://riverfrontwilm.com/directory/riverfront-ma...

Need More?

Looking for more fun ways to see, experience and enjoy all that Wilmington and the surrounding Brandywine Valley have to offer? Keep an eye out for the upcoming Wilmington and Brandywine Valley Discovery Map guide, filled with recommendations for what to do, where to stay, where to eat and where to shop while in the region.