Wilmington Hosted Annual Black Restaurant Week

The event showcases Black-owned businesses through food festivals, community workouts, and car shows.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a plate of fried chicken and greens in a flat, outlined graphic style. — Wilmington launched its fourth annual Black Restaurant Week, a city-wide initiative intended to drive visibility and growth for local Black-owned culinary businesses. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Wilmington has launched its fourth annual Black Restaurant Week, featuring a series of community events and dining specials. The celebration runs through September 27 and spotlights local culinary staples like Walt's Flavor Crisp Chicken Express.

Why it matters

The initiative aims to provide Black-owned businesses with increased visibility and foot traffic while connecting entrepreneurs to capital and professional networks. City Council President Ernest Congo initiated the program four years ago to foster local economic growth.

Walt's Flavor Crisp Chicken Express has maintained operations for 51 years after being founded in 1975. The event's schedule includes a Skratch Bar + Kitchen block party spanning from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The players

Ernest Congo

He is the City Council President who initiated the Black Restaurant Week event four years ago.

Walt's Flavor Crisp Chicken Express

This local restaurant has operated for 51 years after being founded by Harry Sheppard and Walter Samuels.

Larry Fletcher

He joined Walt's in 1989 and has operated his own franchise location since 2003.

The details

The week-long celebration features various community engagements, including a car show and workout at Rodney Square and a food festival at The Queen. Participating local establishments offer special promotions to drive patronage throughout the city.

1975: Harry Sheppard and Walter Samuels founded Walt's.
2003: Larry Fletcher opened a franchise location of Walt's.
September 25, 2026: Skratch Bar + Kitchen hosts a block party.
September 27, 2026: Black Restaurant Week concludes.

Market Landscape

This annual event follows the pattern of growth established by the 2021 launch of Wilmington's inaugural Black Restaurant Week. By centralizing promotional efforts, the city aims to increase market share for independent minority-owned eateries against larger corporate competitors.

Residents and visitors can participate in local culinary events and special promotions across the city through September 27. These events offer consumers the opportunity to support long-standing local institutions like Walt's Flavor Crisp Chicken Express.

The takeaway

Supporting local culinary traditions strengthens the unique economic fabric of the city. Attendees are encouraged to utilize the scheduled events to discover new businesses while supporting restaurants that have served the community for decades.