Receiving nationwide acclaim, the Easton Public Market celebrated a decade of downtown community events and local businesses, from hot dogs to fresh produce to chocolates, last week.
“The Easton Public Market is a unique space as it is one part community hub and another part culinary incubator,” wrote Joe Dimeck, special events manager for the Greater Easton Development Partnership, in an email. “I think it is a perfect representation of Easton, which has a strong community and an incredible food scene.”
In celebration of the anniversary, the market hosted a week’s worth of events, including live music, drag bingo and an after-hours celebration that saw the lights dimmed for a Grateful Dead tribute.
Julie VanOsdol, the manager of the Easton Main Street Initiative, another program in the Greater Easton Development Partnership, said the events created a unique opportunity to reflect on their current “event repertoire.”
“It’s funny, because we’re celebrating 10 years, but this was like, ‘Oh, this could be a new thing,’” she said.
The market was established in 2016 as an extension of the Easton Farmers Market; both are operated by the Greater Easton Development Partnership. Lafayette College was one financial supporter of construction and continues to partner with the market, namely by sending students for lunch during orientation programs.
“I always like to tell people about it because it is one of my favorite parts about Easton, just having the opportunity to go to a place where there’s a lot of food options and just a lot of community involvement,” said Joanna Rudenberg ‘28, who tries food from a new vendor every time she visits the market.
“I say this having been at Lafayette at a time where people didn’t leave campus very often: I think it’s a positive part of the student experience for students who regularly come downtown, and I think the public market should be part of that,” said Jared Mast ‘04, the executive director of the Greater Easton Development Partnership.
Planning for the market dates back to 2013, according to Mast, who said he is proud of the project.
“A lot of the same principles that we launched the market with still apply,” he said. “We wanted to be a center of food, but more on the fast casual side, and grocery offerings with the farm stand and butcher.”
Four original vendors remain: Mister Lee’s Noodles, Tolino Vineyards, Chocodeim and Scratch.
“You don’t want to see people lose their personal resources on a small business, but in a different way of looking at it, some change and some turnover actually helps keep the market fresh,” Mast said, estimating that around 15 vendors had “moved on from the market.”
The market is popular with families and large gatherings of friends, allowing diners to select their food of choice and seating appropriate for large groups.
“People talk about third spaces, and this really is one,” VanOsdol said.
Selma O’Malley ’26 contributed reporting.