Downtown Easton’s riverfront location and wealth of historic architecture are constant reminders of its prominent role in the nation’s founding and its establishment as a place of business.  In keeping this architecture preserved, Easton will continue to attract a creative and innovative group of community members to explore a variety of business, restaurant and art enterprises.

The Easton Main Street Initiative (EMSI) works with the business and building owners, city government, the Chamber of Commerce and the community to promote Downtown Easton as a shopping and browsing destination by encouraging a healthy business mix.  Easton’s riverfront will be better recognized as a city focal point and gathering place.  With a stronger pull to shop and browse, the flow of traffic from the riverfront will follow to Centre Square, the shopping destination.  The EMSI also intends to place occupants in the abundant office space and to increase the number of people living and working in the downtown district.  The development of upper floor space for market rate housing will promote Downtown Easton as a desirable living community.

Downtown Easton is a central hub of arts and entertainment in eastern Pennsylvania.  Within this creative district, arts tourism will continue to flourish. Lafayette College faculty and students alike explore all downtown has to offer, frequenting shops, restaurants, galleries and gathering places.  By holding special events and targeting retail business to interest young adults, EMSI continues to foster the town-gown relationship and sense of community between Lafayette and Easton.

The Easton community continues to maintain its current level of safe, clean and green initiatives.  By adding more kid-friendly businesses, family tourism will strengthen.  Business and event promotions aimed at Crayola traffic and held during Crayola hours of operation will offer families with children more opportunities in Downtown Easton.

In offering more venues and opportunities for families, artists, business owners, building owners, and residents, EMSI will create a more visible and livable Downtown Easton.

The Main Street District

The Easton Main Street Initiative covers a 20 square block area bound by the Delaware River on the east, the Lehigh River to the south, the Bushkill Creek to the north and Sixth Street to the west.

The Four Point Approach

Organization involves getting everyone working toward the same goal and assembling the appropriate human and financial resources to implement a Main Street revitalization program.
Promotion sells a positive image of the commercial district and encourages consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in the Main Street district.
Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape, while capitalizing on its best assets.
Economic Restructuring strengthens a community’s existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base.

Click here for more information about the four Main Street Committees.

Easton Main Street Initiative is managed by Manager, Kim Kmetz and Assistant Manager, Julie VanOsdol. Contact them here