Brooklyn Arts businesses report record sales following social district pilot program

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Some business owners in an area of Downtown Wilmington are hoping the city will adopt a new social district program after a pilot program ended last month. 

The Brooklyn Arts District—located in the Northside of downtown Wilmington—hosted a social district pilot program every Saturday from 12 to 5 p.m. last month. 

During that time, bar and restaurant patrons in the area could get their alcoholic drinks to-go and drink them outside in an approved social district cup. 

Tara English is the owner of Brooklyn Cafe and one of two business owners who presented the idea to city council.  

She said the pilot program was smash hit. 

“We were actually so surprised by the attendance, which was almost 9000 people total over the three weekends. Every business, whether they sold alcohol or not, did three to four times their normal business every weekend,” English said. 

English also noted during the pilot program, there were zero calls to police, fire, or EMS, and no reported littering. She said she plans to present to city council in May in a bid to make the social district permanent.