2025 Top 10 Retail Center Experiences: No. 3 Easton Town Center
“Easton exists in a category of one,” proclaimed this magnificent development’s entry form for consideration in this year’s Top 10 list. Bold language, indeed, but true.
What once was a barren piece of land planned as the site of a distribution center for Limited Brands (co-owner of the project along with The Georgetown Company), blossomed instead into the Midwest’s most massive collection of retail brands, restaurants, entertainment, parks, town squares, and public art displays.
Its 1.7 million sq. ft. of space has become the landing ground for first-in-state tenants in Ohio (as well as must-have popular brands) that draw 30 million visitors generating more than $1 billion in sales each year.
- With more than 250 retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues — including an unmatched roster of first-to-Ohio openings — Easton serves as the entry point for brands that want to plant their flag in the Midwest.
- Easton’s 60-plus roster of restaurants occupies 20% of its GLA. Its two-story Del Mar fine-dining flagship brand has patio seating. The feature has been so successful that patios are being installed at other eateries.
- Working in tandem with its dining options is an entertainment layer that includes Legoland Discovery Center, The Escape Game, AMC Easton 30, Pins Mechanical, and Sur La Table cooking school.
- Art abounds throughout the grounds. At its "Chalk the Block" contests, local artists gather to create chalk murals that are voted on for awards by Easton guests.
Spencer Jordan — the executive VP of leasing at Steiner + Associates, which operates the center — observes that Easton is constantly refreshing its offerings and its layouts to surprise and excite guests every time they visit.
“We are very lucky o have an ownership team dedicated to working with us to make the creative enhancements that are required today to present guests with new and exciting experiences,” noted Jordan. “This requires capital, a lot of sacrifice, and a lot of forward-thinking. Yaromir [Steiner, Easton’s developer] says that once you develop something that’s working, break it and see how it can work better.”
