Joe Biden's Wilmington campaign spending: Pizzeria Bardea, The Quoin, Sweet Lucy's & more
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President Joe Biden has a campaign after his own heart.
It's been about five months since the Biden campaign opened its downtown Wilmington headquarters and the Biden for President committee has now reported its spending through Wednesday, Jan. 31, through Federal Election Commission filings.
Plenty of the spending occurred right here in Delaware, mostly in the campaign's host city.
And when it comes to food purchases, maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise that it's dominated by Italian food and a big purchase from a local ice cream shop ― hitting a couple of Biden's favorite types of foods.
Pizza, ice cream & more
Eight of the 11 food spending charges came from Wilmington Italian eateries ― and not the two Little Italy eateries that Biden has been spotted at in recent months: Mrs. Robino's Restaurant (520 N. Union St.) and Rocco Italian Grill & Sports Bar (701 N. Union St.).
Two spots racked up three Biden campaign orders each since the headquarters opening. And both are in the same family.
The campaign's bills at Pizzeria Bardea (111 W. 10th St.) in the DE.CO food hall totaled $364.27 and the charges totaled $265.20 at DiMeo's Pizza (831 N. Market St.). Bardea is co-owned by chef Antimo DiMeo, son of Giuseppe "Pino" DiMeo, who owns DiMeo's Pizza, where his son once tossed pizza dough.
The spending on Italian meals didn't stop there.
PREZ DOES ROBINOS President Biden dines at Mrs. Robino's in Wilmington, once also visited by Guy Fieri
Trolley Square area's Piccolina Toscana (1412 N. Dupont St.) had a single order of $1,030.00 on New Year's Eve (Biden's go-to order there is reportedly cappellini al pomodoro) and downtown's Cafe Mezzanotte (W. 11th and Tatnall streets) had a single order of $540.87.
The only non-Italian fare also came from the only non-Wilmington restaurant listed.
Two orders from CAVA (2150 Fashion Center Blvd., Christiana), a national Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain with a location near the Christiana Mall, totaled $306.94.
BIDEN DOES ROCCOS President Biden dines at 'old-school' Wilmington restaurant that holds memories
The final and most recent food order disclosed by the campaign came from Sweet Lucy's Ice Cream & Treats (3201 Concord Pike, Talleyville) for $1,187.50.
It came on Jan. 31, three days before Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff made a joint stop at the campaign headquarters to meet with staff and volunteers. (There's no word on whether there was any chocolate chip ice cream involved in the order, the president's preferred flavor.)
A $705 purchase was made the same day at Fulton Paper & Party Supplies (1006 W. 27th St., Wilmington), also ostensibly for the event, which included children of campaign staffers in attendance.
Rent, lodging & travel
When it came to paying rent for Biden headquarters, travel expenses and lodging, all funds were spent in the city.
The largest payout came to Office Partners XIX Brandywine LLC for office rent, utilities, maintenance and repairs.
It's a limited liability company with Rob Buccini listed as its registered agent, co-founder and partner in Wilmington-based development company Buccini/Pollin Group.
The campaign shelled out $140,172.50 across 11 payments to its landlord.
When it came to transportation, the campaign used Delaware Limo (2305 Pyle St., Wilmington), just as it did locally during its COVID locked down 2020 campaign.
The black car and corporate transportation provider, which has a fleet that includes limousines, Mercedes Benz Sprinter vans, SUVS and motor coaches, charged the campaign $12,640.30 for four purchases.
For lodging, there was a single paid bill from Wilmington hotels The Quoin Hotel (519 N. Market St.) for $1,837, Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington Downtown (1102 N. West St.) for $568.70 and Staybridge Suites Wilmington (1220 N. Market St.) for $546.70.
Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Where is Joe Biden campaign spending on food, rent & cars in Delaware?
