Construction on a new hotel in Easton’s Centre Square is slated to conclude at the end of the year, with a grand opening currently expected in time for Lafayette College’s Class of 2027 graduation.
The 25-room Grand Square Hotel was originally scheduled to open later this year, but the harsh winter weather delayed construction, according to Mick Gjevukaj, founder of Gusto Hospitality Group, the hotel’s developer.
Gjevukaj also cited the strain of organizing “so many logistics” as a factor, like staffing and finalizing plans for the rooftop restaurant capping the seven-floor hotel.
The “exclusive” restaurant, which Gjevukaj said will offer modern American cuisine, replaced early plans for two ground-floor dining options.
“You’ll have a little bit of all the world’s cuisines,” he said. “It’s going to have to compete with other places around, meaning my places.”
Gusto Hospitality Group also owns Easton’s Three Oak Steakhouse, Townley House, Albanesi and River Grille.
City planning and codes director Dwayne Tillman said Grand Square’s first-floor facade will utilize exterior tiles from the now-demolished Mayer Building, which most recently housed the music venue One Centre Square.
“The first floor looks like the original Mayer Building, and then the addition has its own architectural features,” Tillman said, adding that the upper floors’ appearance required approval by the city’s Historic District Commission, dedicated to the preservation of historic buildings.
Guest parking will be housed in local lots following concerns of visitors taking up on-street parking, according to Tillman.
“Visitors will be directed to a designated parking lot, with an additional off-site lot supported by valet service,” Cassondra Engarto, director of hotel operations for Gusto, wrote in an email.
Gjevukaj said he would “like a partnership” with Lafayette College, including offering college organizations priority when reserving the 200-person banquet hall. He added that he hopes Grand Square will become an easy option for parents visiting campus. There is not yet a formal partnership between the hotel and the college.
Gareth Schuster ’27, who is from St. Louis, said an additional hotel could make visiting easier for his family.
“It makes things a lot easier to be right in Easton,” he said.
Schuster noted that his family’s previous accommodations, located roughly 10 minutes from campus, were “inconvenient, but not horrible.” Just over a dozen hotels are offered in the greater Easton area; the closest stop to Lafayette’s campus is the Lafayette Inn. The Grand Eastonian, a block away from the future hotel, has served guests for nearly 100 years.
Nisan Basciftci ‘26 said it was difficult to book a nearby hotel for her family, who are visiting from Turkey, for her May commencement. Despite booking in August, they were unable to secure a room in Downtown Easton.
“I had to get them a room at a Holiday Inn, which is like a 10 to 15 minute drive from here,” Basciftci said. “That was not the ideal because they’re coming from Turkey and they won’t have a car here.”
