I'd actually like to see most of that block get demolished and replaced with taller mixed-used buildings. This block is less dense than the rest of downtown, so insofar as the city's going to need to start adding more multi-family housing in response to the coming rental boom, it makes sense to start replacing structures on 3rd street where the available retail spaces are lower quality, and the air space isn't being used.

those buildings are privately owned so knocking them down is not an option. Good restaurants such as Sette Luna and Ocean are great there and brings people downtown who might not be there other wise. A chain restaurant just isn't going to make it .

Will we ever be fortunate enough to have a real ( small scale) grocery store??? Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to walk to a shop that sells fresh produce, dairy products, staple items, etc? We now have the choice of the Dollar Store ( ugh), Jack's Market ( how do you like spending $5.00 for a tiny box of Domino's sugar?) or trekking to the Exxon station? A grocery/ market would be a God send!

Something that doesn't make our town look so scary and downtrodden to outsiders. I told someone to go get pizza at Antonio's a few stores down from this location and they looked at me like I was from Mars and said, "Yeah... like I'd go to downtown Easton."

TWO WORDS: Trader Joe's

Anything but Cash for Gold!

Chipotle's

http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/Default.aspx?type=default

Use to be a Packard and Mercedes dealership. A perfect fit for downtown Easton. Two cars that most Easton residents could never afford or have opportunity for a ride unless as a paid chauffeur. (Right on, Mitt) In fact, bring back a high end use-another disconnect on the downtown Easton landscape. If you rip down the structure for high rise residential, be prepared to wait thirty years for another failed development. (People will buy that idea believing that train service is coming. Another big lie.) Its best use with the adjacent garages is its original purpose. New cars won't work, but a used car lot in that building will. And, that will connect perfectly with Easton's low income populace.

Wow, thanks for all the great discussion everyone, both here and on our Facebook page. Can't say I'm as crazy about Trader Joe's as a lot of folks seem to be, but it would be nice if the city had a more real grocery stores.

People have such short memories. A couple of years ago, the space was occupied by a fresh produce place that had plans to expand into meats and other groceries too. No one went, and the place died a lonely death in just a few months. Perhaps when the bus station is complete, a place like that would have a better chance.
The concept that there is no good food Downtown is incorrect, though I can see how many would think so if one never bothered to really look.
George and Eva's place ("G&E") on the corner of 5th and Northampton is tiny, but serves as the main grocery for quite a few local residents that are carless. I personally buy avocados there--they are cheaper and better than the ones I can get at Wegman's. Other bits as well when I don't feel like making a full grocery trip. They stock quite a few authentic Mexican cuisine staples too--which is great when I make chili. And they have a full deli, with cold cuts to order.
Glamorous and modern they aren't, and neither is American Dollar (west of Terra, NOT Family Dollar), who also has a reasonable selection of groceries, including frozen foods and produce.
Trader Joe's is unlikely to come to Easton--they've already said so. But if it must be a branded grocery (since everyone seems to disregard the little independent ones that are already here) a Redner's mini mart might be the thing. (They're not so mini, actually more like the size of a grocery of 40 years ago.)

KIngs Market was the name of the produce market. Unfortunately the "fresh" fruits and vegetables were anything but. There is usually a very good reason for a place to go out of business. After shopping here once, I vowed "never again". I guess people had similar experiences...

No chain restaurants. That's why God invented strip malls. If you want Macaroni Bonefish di Beppe or Chipotle Buffalo 5 Guys Lobster, find a mall.

Put in a store that sells only belly button lint bears.

Too bad downtown Easton doesn't have small independent movie theater such as this one: http://thegrandtheatre.com. I would use it all the time.