Dozens of content creators descend on Delaware for Experience Delaware Day

DELAWARE — What happens when you put 28 creators who are passionate about finding good food, interesting businesses and things to do in the same downtown for a day?

Over the weekend, I got to hang out with some great people who were excited to discover something new and business owners eager to share what they’ve built. People who genuinely seemed to care about the places, experiences and communities they were introducing to one another.

Why content creators?

Tim Wilson, executive director at Destination Delaware, told the creator group that more than 70% of people make travel decisions based on influencer content, and that number climbs to 80% among people under 40.

He noted something these creators have that traditional advertising often doesn’t: An audience that knows them and trusts their recommendations.

But, to truly understand why this event exists, you have to understand Todd Daughenbaugh.

Creating an experience

I like Todd. When he talks about downtown Delaware, he lights up and his excitement for the day is infectious. “It’s one of my favorite days of the year. I love it,” he said.

As the owner of Fresh Start Cafe & Bakery and founder of Experience Delaware Day, Todd’s belief in collective success goes beyond business philosophy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he wasn’t sure Fresh Start would survive. But once he realized his business was going to be okay, he looked around downtown and saw other companies still struggling.

“It doesn’t matter if we make it, if nobody else does,” he said.

Todd Daughenbaugh owner of Fresh Start. Credit: Shelbi Evans / Delaware Source

The experience showed him how much downtown businesses need one another.

“I’m not naive enough to think that people are going to come from Columbus to a coffee shop,” he said. “You’re going to pass a dozen great coffee shops, a dozen great bakeries.”

That’s part of why he embraces Main Street Delaware’s “#JustNextDoor” initiative.

“We’re actually not that far away,” Daughenbaugh said. “We’re really close to Dublin, to Westerville, and Worthington, even Columbus. Sometimes there’s that idea that we’re still farm country, but we’re basically connected to Columbus now with all the growth that we’ve seen. So it’s worth the trip.”

Late Night Delaware

My weekend began Friday night with Late Night Delaware, an evening initiative designed to give adults their own reason to explore downtown.

We started at Oak & Brazen, stopped by MOHIO, then followed “Sporks Out” (a downtown murder mystery that sent us through local businesses in search of clues) before ending with wine at OpenBTL Wine and Spirits and cocktails at Bandit’s Bar.

“Maybe you’re an empty nester or something and you just want to come downtown, have a drink, sit, socialize,” Olivia Yetman (@livsocial614), who spearheaded the event, said.

For local resident Melanie Bange (@ohiogirl.travelingworld), the evening events are a regular draw for residents and visitors alike.

“I will firmly say, [about] the Late Night Delaware events, that my family comes to these pretty frequently, just because of the specials that are happening and all the businesses do stay open late and it is a great time,” Bange said.

That’s part of what makes Late Night Delaware interesting. It’s not replacing family friendly events. It’s adding another reason for adults to come downtown and make an evening of it.

“The nice thing is we work with Main Street, we work with everyone, it’s just an amazing community to be a part of,” Yetman said.

Choose your own adventure

After closed-door cocktails and murder mystery clues on Friday night, Saturday morning brought a complete shift in energy.

Saturday’s Experience Delaware Day started at 8 a.m. at Fresh Start, where the creators gathered before heading out to explore downtown on their own.

Stepping outside, we walked right into the farmers market. Many of the creators stopped to peruse the offerings before branching off to explore other local businesses. I spent the morning exploring the area and catching creators wherever I could.

Why visit?

I found Jeremy Quam (@thatsandwichdude) at Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop. It was his third year at Experience Delaware Day, and he keeps coming back for the mix of businesses and experiences.

Creators left to right: jordan.posner, meganelisevarela, thatsandwichdude

“I think it’s just really fun to see the community of shops, being able to see the diversity that Delaware brings,” he said.

Quam’s approach to recommendations is simple: “I only recommend things that I enjoy.”

He and his wife use social media the same way when they travel, looking for places locals recommend. Now, he gets to return the favor by showing his audience what he discovers in Delaware.

But the appeal of downtown isn’t just that there’s a lot to do. It’s that you can do a lot of it without getting back in your car.

Creators left to right: takowing.eats, lifewithlynsie, ohiocoffeeblog ,munchybeak at MaD3d Designs

Jessica Caton Diefenbach (@munchybeak) said she loves how much you can fit into a short visit.

“You can honestly visit 15 shops within an hour or two,” she said. “I love how they’re all close together, and they’re just very unique, different finds.”

Melissa Boyd (@delawareoh_foodie) said walkability is paired with something even more important.

“I love that downtown Delaware is more of your mom and pop shops, you know the owners, they’re your neighbor, ” Boyd said. “So you’re really supporting local.”

I caught Malini Swank (@lakesandlattes) over lunch at Opa Grill & Tavern. She has been coming to Experience Delaware Day since 2018 and said she keeps coming back for the people and the chance to hear business owners “geek out” about what they do.

“It’s just really magical to get to do that over and over and over, and meet all these business owners,” Swank said.

She and her husband Karl started creating content to help people find interesting places to go. Discovering those places firsthand keeps her coming back.

For Malini, who lives in Columbus, Delaware feels like a getaway close to home.

“We live in Columbus and it is not that far away, but it feels like a small town. It feels like a getaway,” she said.

Community, connection and collaboration

The words community, connection and collaboration echoed at every stop. Event veteran Erin Vasicek (@spiffycolumbus) has attended since the early years and keeps returning for that exact atmosphere.

“I enjoy coming back because it’s just such a good community that likes to support each other, and it’s been great seeing it change over the years, like the places that have stayed, places that have changed,” Vasicek said.

Mark Anthony Arceño (@learnthrufood) was visiting Delaware for only the second time.

Creator: learnthrufood at Honey & Abernathy

“There is an ongoing community feeling, which I really appreciate,” he said. “To see a smaller town growing without losing their identity, I think is really cool.”

“The more that I get to know the people, the easier it is to share that content,” he said. “It’s not just taking some photos in a shop. It’s learning the owner’s names and what motivated them to be part of this community and to start the business.”

Lindsay Ronneberg (@cbusfoodie614) returns for this event each year for the sense of community.

“I love all of the small businesses. It’s like a reunion with all of our friends, businesses and local community,” Ronneberg said. “Just being in this town is something special.”

The creators aren’t the only ones with something to say about the experience. I wanted to know what it was like from the business owners’ side, too.

Creators left to right: spiffycolumbus, ohiogirl.travelingworld, cbusfoodie614 at Barley Hopsters

Small business, big heart

Mackenzie Johnston-Green, owner of Delaware Pottery Studios and the Bare Bowl, said that support extends beyond recommending another business.

“I do not hesitate to ask questions, I don’t have a problem reaching out, because we’re all here for each other, to help grow and just be better together,” Johnston-Green said.

In Delaware, collaboration just feels natural.

The ripple effect

For business owners, the value of Experience Delaware Day isn’t always measurable when the event ends.

Amy Rauchenstein, co-owner of Bowerbird, is participating for the second year. She said it’s difficult to gauge the impact of Experience Delaware Day.

“It’s gonna be like a lingering sort of ripple,” she said. “Regardless, it’s just kind of fun to be a part of it anyway.”

The ripple was already visible as I walked around downtown. I kept hearing creators talk about places they had discovered, hidden gems they hadn’t known about and businesses they already wanted to revisit.

Goat Local has participated since opening in 2023 and has seen that same long tail of exposure.

“I think that trickles out to the rest of the months in the year of people learning about your business, seeing some of the pictures and videos that people post,” said owner Rob Pertell.

Melissa ‘Mel’ Clark, owner and resident artist of Honey & Abernathy, has participated since the beginning and sees the event as a chance to connect with those sharing Delaware with Central Ohio audiences.

“It’s a great event, it’s a happy atmosphere, it’s a celebration of all the businesses,” Clark shared.

“It’s also a way to introduce ourselves to the influencers out there, and also a way for us to meet the influencers who are making a difference in Central Ohio.”

Spirit of main street

Courtney Graf, executive director of Main Street Delaware, said Experience Delaware Day works because businesses, creators and the community all help show what Delaware has to offer.

“It’s just an amazing opportunity to really showcase the best of the best of downtown Delaware,” Courtney said.

Main Street Delaware recently recognized Daughenbaugh with its Spirit of Main Street Award.

“Todd puts aside what he could be doing for his own business to invest in his neighbors and the broader downtown community,” Courtney said.

Experience Delaware Day isn’t about influencers convincing people to visit a particular business. It’s about people coming together to explore, have fun, and share what they discovered with everyone else.

Delaware makes that easy. It’s close enough to Columbus for an afternoon or evening escape, but once you’re downtown, it feels like you’ve gone somewhere.