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Photo credit: Marco Calderon
EASTON, Pa. (July 14, 2023) – The votes are in – and it’s a delicious victory for Easton.
Easton Public Market (EPM) was the top vote-getter in the 2023 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest for Best Public Market (www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-public-market-2023/) beating out the 2022 and 2021 winner, Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, and other nationally recognized sites like Pike Place Market in Seattle, Boston Public Market and Lancaster Central Market.
EPM, 325 Northampton Street, features 14 local vendors offering a variety of ready-to-eat or take-away foods as well as fresh produce, artisan butchered meats, beverages and housewares in a modern, welcoming and airy indoor setting. In the spirit of bringing people together and enriching the community, the market also hosts free live music and events in its Community Room, has a demonstration kitchen and provides the Lehigh Valley Riley Children’s Hospital Kids Zone.
The 20 public markets in contention were nominated by a panel of relevant experts which include a combination of editors from USA TODAY; editors from 10Best.com; relevant expert contributors; and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties. The public voted during 28 days ending July 3. Results were released today.
“We’re incredibly thankful for the support of our loyal fans who voted us as the best public market in the country,” said Megan McBride, Manager of the Easton Market District. “We aim to be an asset to the community in addition to a food destination for everyone. As a result, we have an incredible amount of devotion and support from our regular local marketgoers. People are passionate about the EPM and Easton as a whole – and it showed with every vote.”
Greater Easton Development Partnership — a not-for-profit organization focused on Easton’s economic well-being, historical integrity, vibrant culture, and hospitality – opened the market in April 2016 and continues to operate it. GEDP also manages the Highmark Farmstand, an EPM vendor offering up local and organic produce and food items. More than 375,000 guests visited the market in the 12 months ending March 2023. The newly opened 500-space Fourth Street Garage behind the EPM promises even more convenient parking and a landscaped plaza for events and gatherings.
“To be only seven years old and win over bigger public markets that have been around for decades validates our decision to open EPM and attract the high-quality vendors who call it home,” said McBride. “Easton’s reputation as a food destination began in 1752 with opening of the Easton Farmers’ Market and continues to this day with an amazing diversity of restaurants, big Easton food events like PA Bacon Fest, and this national award.”
A thank you party is being planned in the plaza between the EPM and garage for July 28 in conjunction with GEDP’s Fourth Friday / Easton Out Loud event featuring live music, the unveiling of new outdoor ping pong tables and more.
About Greater Easton Development Partnership
GEDP is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization focused on Easton’s economic well-being, historical integrity, vibrant culture and hospitality. It manages more than two dozen programs and events that improve Easton’s quality of life including Easton Farmers’ Market, Easton Main Street Initiative, Easton Public Market, PA Bacon Fest, West Ward Community Initiative, Easton Ambassadors, Easton Winter Village, Heritage Day, Easton Garden Works and more. More: eastonpartnership.org.
About USA TODAY’s 10Best.com
10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. The core of the site’s uniqueness is its team of local travel experts: a well-traveled and well-educated group who are not only experts in their fields – and their cities – but discriminating in their tastes. These local experts live in the city they write about so the content is constantly updated. 10Best.com averages 5 million visitors per month. It was acquired by USA TODAY in January of 2013.
Information provided to TVL by:
Michael Drabenstott (for GEDP)
Drabenstott Communications Group
