If Wimbledon can do it, why can’t Delray Beach?
Since 2013, Wimbledon businesses have been decorating their storefronts with tennis garb to draw shoppers into the British village during racket season each summer. Judges choose the best windows based on creativity, humor and level of difficulty.
Adam Baron, executive director of the Delray Beach Open, imagined a similar contest in downtown Delray Beach, coordinated with his tournament this month, and approached city officials, who embraced the idea. Thus, the first-ever Love At First Sight Window Competition, an homage to both Valentine’s Day and the love score in tennis. Instead of judges deciding the winner, passersby are able to vote for their favorite participating storefront.
About 60,000 spectators are expected for the tournament., which will be Feb. 13 to 22 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center. The city’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) wants visitors to make a connection between the tennis center and adjacent downtown.
A closer look at the window display at A Little Wyld children’s store in Delray Beach. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
“What we don’t have yet, and what this partnership is intentionally designed to build, is a stronger, more visible bridge between the tennis experience and downtown Delray’s retail, dining and cultural offerings,” DDA marketing director Suzanne Boyd said. “The goal is to make the entire downtown feel like an extension of the tournament, encouraging tennis fans to explore, linger longer and discover our local businesses while they’re here.”
In this first year,17 businesses are participating, according to the DDA. They include:
• Beach Paradise Fashion Wear, at 533 E. Atlantic Ave., where mannequins are dressed in beachy outfits of yellow and aqua, the tournament’s colors.
• FURST, at 123 NE Second Ave., a purse and jewelry store displaying backpacks and handbags filled with rackets and tennis balls.
• Love Shack Delray, at 411 E. Atlantic Ave., a clothing boutique showcasing tennis outfits, themed pillows and large multicolored tennis balls inside teacups, glasses and vases in the front windows and inside the store.
Another participant, FURST is a fine purse and jewelry store in Delray Beach. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
An art gallery, a coffeehouse, a real estate agency and even a hotel have also built tennis themes into their front windows.
Amanda Perna, co-owner of A Little Wyld, a children’s boutique at 157 NE Second Ave., said she and her business partner, Skye Dyer, were excited when downtown representatives came into the store about two weeks ago with flyers describing the contest.
They took some Jellycats, a trendy stuffed toy, got them little tennis rackets and arranged them in a scene in the front window. They added colorful balloons to the store’s exterior to draw attention.
The window display at the ManCave barbershop, as seen on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
“We only had a week to sort it all out,” Perna said. “We wanted to make it cute and fun.”
Those strolling downtown can vote for their favorite storefront through Tuesday, Feb. 17, using a digital pass. Voting cannot be done remotely, and voters must check in at participating stores before selecting their choice.
The business with the most votes will become the Delray Beach Open Window Display People’s Choice Champion and receive $500. The winner will be announced live on Stadium Center Court at the Open on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
To participate in the competition, sign up for the digital pass at downtowndelraybeach.com/do. For information about the tournament, visit delraybeachopen.com.
Hyatt Place in Delray Beach is also participating in the Love at First Sight Delray Beach Open Window Decorating Competition. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
