The New Palafox construction project hasn’t stopped the Downtown Improvement Board from finding creative ways to keep shoppers, diners, and wine lovers coming back to the heart of Pensacola. DIB Executive Director Walker Wilson joined the We Don’t Color on the Dog podcast this week to unveil a packed slate of promotions designed to drive foot traffic and support local businesses through the duration of the project.
Picnic in the Plaza
First, something simple but impactful — tables and chairs are now set up in Plaza Ferdinand every day from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Khon’s Restaurant is lending the furniture on loan since construction prevents them from placing it on the sidewalk. Walker thanked Council President Allison Patton, the city council, and the mayor’s office for pushing through a new ordinance that allows greater use of the historic plaza.
- The result? A welcoming outdoor gathering spot right in the middle of downtown — and on a beautiful Pensacola day, people are already taking advantage of it.
Wine Madness: 16 Wines Enter, One Wins
Taking its cues from NCAA March Madness, the DIB is launching Wine Madness — a six-week wine bracket tournament kicking off Thursday, March 19. Sixteen wines will face off bracket-style, with two wines featured each night at different downtown businesses. Participants buy a ticket through Eventbrite, taste the wines, do a little shopping, and vote for their favorite before moving on to the next store.
Details: Ticket prices are tiered just like the tournament: Sweet 16 nights run $10 per person (equivalent to four glasses of wine), Elite Eight evenings are $15, and the Final Four and Championship round will be $20. Each event is capped at 75 guests. The whole thing wraps up April 20 with a downtown Wine Madness champion crowned. Levin Papantonio has stepped up as the title sponsor, giving the event significant community backing. Tickets and full details go live next week on the DIB’s Eventbrite page.
“All I Want — Construction Edition” Returns
The DIB is also reviving its popular “All I Want” spending rewards program, branded this time as the Construction Edition, running from March 8th through May 24th. The concept is simple: shop, dine, or play anywhere downtown, scan your receipts, and earn entries — one entry for every $10 spent. This Sunday’s Shop Hop on Palafox (and now Jefferson Street, with new retailers Cloet, Hemline, and Tajan joining the mix) kicks things off at noon, and anyone who submits a receipt this Sunday earns double entries.
Weekly winners, drawn every Monday, will receive $150 in downtown gift cards — a brand-new DIB initiative launching Sunday at downtownpensacola.com. The digital gift cards work via tap-to-pay and are accepted at participating downtown merchants. Additional weekly prizes include four free annual Park Pensacola passes. The grand prize? The DIB and the City of Pensacola are each contributing $500, giving one lucky shopper $1,000 in downtown gift cards to spend anywhere they choose.
Downtown Pensacola is showing that construction doesn’t have to mean shutdown. With creative programming, community partnerships, and a little March Madness spirit, the DIB is keeping the energy alive on Palafox and beyond. Stay tuned to ricksblog.biz for ticket links, prize announcements, and weekly winner reveals.
