While there is no truth in the rumor there is a support group for downtown residents still traumatized by the closing of the Safeway on Washington Street, there are many who are still adjusting to the loss of the last walkable grocery store in town.
Easton’s Safeway was not the fancy version of the chain’s range of food stores. The Washington Street branch was 30,000 square feet of “good enough” essentials that allowed shoppers to avoid car-driving for hundreds of people in the historic district. While Safeway might have survived if their corporate whiz kids had realized how economically diverse the community really was and offer a full range of products that would have made it more profitable, alas, the store closed in 2017.
It was a major loss for Easton, but, at first, there was a good bit of wishful thinking that this prime real estate location would be quickly replaced by a Trader Joe’s or its equivalent. That optimism disappeared quickly as the community learned that the former Safeway owners and the town were at an impasse. When the Safeway closed, the Town of Easton amended its zoning ordinance to prohibit any restrictive covenants that prohibited use of a property as a grocery store. Safeway’s owners were apparently willing to keep the property off the market to avoid competition.
Fast forward to 2024, one of the town’s most noticeable commercial spaces has been left abandoned for seven years.
The good news is that the Easton Town Council, along with the Planning Commission, have finally addressed and fixed that problem. The Council amended the zoning code in a way that was satisfactory to Safeway.
The key to removing the roadblock was an amendment to the zoning code that allowed a restrictive covenant as long as it allowed the opening of a future store no larger than 15,000 square feet.
With those specific changes made, the door has finally been opened for the owner and possible developers to present their plans for town approval.
The first proposal for site plans has now entered the first phase of a lengthy review by Easton leaders, but the first draft ironically indicates that the developer has no plans for any retail use on Washington Street at all. Preliminary plans suggest five single-family houses built close to the sidewalk on Washington Street, and behind those homes would be 24 townhouses in groups of 8.
The lack of a walkable grocery store in the plans will undoubtedly disappoint those in the historic district, but it is worth noting this is the very beginning of a process that requires public input.
Easton Councilmember David Montgomery looks at this as a real opportunity for community engagement. He says, “I am very glad to see that the Safeway lot will finally be put to use, and infill housing like this is just what Easton needs. But we need more. This is the time for the community to make it very clear to the developer that the historic district needs a walkable food store, providing service for all incomes. The developer and town officials need to hear that, so this is the time to speak out.”
The first hearing for site approval will take place before the Planning Commission. No date has yet been set, and the Spy will keep watch for an announcement.
Michael Davis says
It was a great free parking lot that allowed one to park for downtown shopping and get some steps in. Not that anyone should care, but from my point of view the “problem” could have gone on unsolved for the next 25 years.
Joyce Phelps says
What a great view…. of the goodwill store.
Carol Voyles says
And where are they (we) all going to park? Please do not take away town parking space.
How about a Trader Joe’s?
Charles Barranco says
Carol Voyles,
Yes!! We should have had one 20 years ago. The Trader Joe’s locator said the median income in the area was not high enough.
Michael Hawke says
Those parking spots are all entirely on private property. The owner of that property could decide to close off the parking lot off at any point and the Town would be stuck with no new housing and no free parking
Lisa Gardner says
Well it’s a good idea to build homes and townhomes. My suggestion is not to price the homes to where the middle class family can afford. I’m well aware that Easton has some historic attributes but what about the people in the middle who would like to be able to afford a nice home in the area that won’t cost their body parts (joke).
Jerry McConnell says
Taking one of the few undeveloped and available commercial properties in town and converting it to ‘curb-to-curb’ townhouses and condos is a pretty bad idea. It’s an excellent location for a store serving the less mobile residents on the west side of town, who are now trekking across Bay Street, between the ponds, through the state and county correctional facilities complex, to reach the back of the shopping center where the Acme is.
Besides there being dozens of sites suitable for residential housing in the Town of Easton, the residential projects most recently built on West Street ( a while ago) have all converted to offices….so please don’t suggest that that corner location, in the heart of town, is appropriate. It’s in the heart of the downtown business district, and should contribute in some capacity to keeping downtown alive.
Since its not clear who is peddling the property of if they plan on developing it, perhaps one of our local town-center redevelopers
could take advantage of the opportunity.
As for the people convenienced by the swell availability of free parking; there’s plenty of parking available in the downtown area. They might just have to walk a block or two to work.
Clara Kelly says
Speaking out, I agree we need infill housing. But I don’t think it should be located in the abandoned Safeway space.
N. Washington, Bay and N. Harrison Streets are already overburdened with traffic most days, and parking is frequently a challenge. Currently, the old Safeway parking lot is being used by customers of businesses along these streets. And on Saturdays, there’s the farmer’s market.
Take away the Safeway parking lot and add visitors, school buses, delivery trucks and contractor vehicles that will need places to park or stand in order to serve residents of the proposed housing described above — the Town is going to have a real mess on its hands.
I also agree with Council member Montgomery that the historic district needs a grocery store where residents can once again walk to, but I also think parking should be available.
Glenn Baker says
Please let the “Market” decide what is best for the site.
The “Town Leaders” refused a Lidl Supermarket which would have provided more price competition in Easton.
What do you want for the site? A 711 or another Royal Farms?
Do you know how many Grocery Stores have left Easton in the past?
Are there any Business People on the town staff? Or in Leadership positions?
Please let the “Market” decide what is best.
Marian Murphy says
While in SF I shopped at a grocery store in the midst of homes and condos, in fact it was the bottom floor of a condo unit. The proposed new housing in this area should certainly squeeze in a grocery store which would be an asset for the new families living in the proposed homes but would also help those of us living in the historic district. A grocery store added to the new site would not only be a convenience but would help our climate crisis. Walk to the store instead of firing up the car!
Alissa Schmitt says
How about a Aldi Grocery Store, in the place of where Safeway used to be to have a price range for everyone. That way all walks of life can go to a grocery store within walking distance to get what they may need. This particular chain of store would fit in with the growing changes of Easton. Another grocery store would greatly help out the community, with the New upcoming single family homes getting built in the area with more families wanting a closer grocery store to go to.
Clara Kelly says
With a facade in keeping with the historic district, the space could easily accommodate a Key Store, C-Town or Shoprite grocery store. Perhaps members of the Attainable Housing Task Force, Planning and Zoning and/or the Town Council should take a field trip to Williamsburg Brooklyn for inspiration on how you can pack a variety of reasonably-priced groceries into a scaled-down building and also provide a modest number of parking spaces.
Glenn Baker says
I’m hoping not to many Easton folks want to turn our town into a copy of Brooklyn!
Joan Wetmore says
There is an Aldi on 50 at Dover.
William Keppen says
Well, that developer’s idea of a “plan” is certainly brilliant, adding 29 more housing units that already lacks walkable grocery shopping. Then there is the additional vehicular traffic added to streets in the downtown area. What are the brilliant plans to address those issues. I do not live downtown, but if I did, I would demand that any kind of development plan would be required to include a small, but adequate, grocery shopping facility.
Maury Schlesinger says
It’s a handsome project which, while dense, seems to fit the character of historic Easton. It’s a shame, however, that there is not a mix of housing types which might help address the need for workforce/ affordable housing in this community. Perhaps the interior layout one of the block of townhouses could be revised into flats and/or the large single family structures be configured as “mansion apartments“ not unlike many of the large houses nearby.
Clara Kelly says
Glenn. Of course we don’t want to turn our town into a copy of Brooklyn! I’m afraid you missed my point. I was simply saying it’s possible to have a good quality, reasonably priced grocery store scaled down but still able to accommodate a variety of products. Please re-read my comments, particularly the opening sentence, “With a facade in keeping with the historic district….” Have you visited a C-Town, Key, or Shoprite store in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn lately? The ones I’ve been to are clean, well stocked and have a great selection of fish, poultry, beef, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, dry goods,frozen foods, etc. — all organized in a compact space.
Dean Wysocki says
Terrible idea. Imagine trying to leave or enter your driveway on either street during morning or evening traffic. Or during downtown events, like Waterfowl. Why not consider mixed-use? It’s where you would have the lower level be commercial space (i.e. grocery/retail/restaurant), then have levels above be apartment living with covered, gated parking for residents behind the mixed-use structure? This would indulge the mayor’s odd fantasy of inclusive housing plus drop the barrier to entry on accommodations.
Clara Kelly says
Speaking of fast forward, it appears the Planning Commission has listed this project under new business on its May 16 meeting agenda. The agenda was published in the Public Notice section of this morning’s (May 1) online edition of “The Star Democrat.” Very perplexing — especially since the Town has yet to complete the 2023 Comprehensive Plan and the Attainable Housing Task is not scheduled to meet until May 9. Is the Commission “putting the cart before the horse?” As of this morning, the agenda/agenda packet was not uploaded to the TOE website.
Clara Kelly says
Some good points, Dean. And I’m trying to keep an open mind. But I happen to think it’s a bad idea to put any housing on the 139 N. Washington (Safeway) property. What we cannot tell from the drawings here is the scope of the proposed project. So, wondering if the Easton Historic District Commission (HDC) was consulted regarding the developer’s proposal, I checked the agenda packet for the HDC’s April 22, 2024 meeting. Lo and behold, the Discussion item on their agenda was 139 N. Washington. One of the attachments to it are detailed PUD concept drawings. Given the number of housing units depicted (townhouses and single-family detached), I don’t see how it can become mixed use with parking unless the developer eliminates some of those units. Either way, it’s going to be a traffic nightmare. (Was a traffic study done?) Take a look and see what you think. The drawings are downloadable from the TOE dot gov website. Go to Resources then Agendas & Minutes.
Kristen Greenaway says
The question of another grocery store sent me down a rabbit hole, using this info as given above: “The key to removing the roadblock was an amendment to the zoning code that allowed a restrictive covenant as long as it allowed the opening of a future store no larger than 15,000 square feet.”
What is the average size of a grocery store?
The average size of a grocery store is about 40,000 square feet. This is the size that most shoppers experience in traditional grocery stores. Nov 15, 2023
What is the square footage of a small grocery store?
Small-format grocery stores now [range] in size between 12,000 sq.ft. and 25,000 sq.ft. Feb 17, 2023
What is the average size of a Publix grocery store?
New store sizes for Publix typically range from 45,000 to 49,000 square feet. Oct 13, 2023
How big is an average Aldi store?
Stores are typically 17,825-18,000 square feet, with approximately 10,650 square feet of sales floor.
How profitable are small grocery stores?
Grocery stores operate on razor-thin profit margins. The industry average is between one and three percent, far below other retail sectors. With such lean margins, grocery stores rely on high sales volume and inventory turnover to thrive. Nov 29, 2023
What is the best location for a grocery store?
#1. Central Areas of a Community.
#2. Shopping Centers.
#3. The Right Proximity to Competition.
#4. Cost-Effective Locations.
Gail Turner says
Contacted Trader Joe’s about possibly coming to Easton, got no reply.
Great article, I now have answers
Martha Witte Suss says
Trader Joe’s has been saying NO Way to Easton for 10 years. Beating a dead horse.
Elizabeth Fisher says
I was waiting for that suggestion, which seems like a good one, but guessing parking for the residents of the townhouses would be on the bottom instead . . . And, as far as noting views, looks like the folks in the pretty houses on Washington Street would be walking out of their back doors to view the 40 foot brick wall that would be the back of the townhouse complex. . . Ha, how about a welcome to downtown Easton small park on the corner instead? Sorry forgot about markets deciding use.
Stephen Leocha says
Safeway is Notorious for their long-term land leases and restrictive covenants to the detriment of the landowners and to the benefit of Safeway. They usually negotiated 100 year net.net net net net lease and paid the landowners the ground rent in return for developing and maintaining crushing contractual control of the property. The major restriction was that should they abandon the property or sell their lease there would not be another food market allowed lease the property.
I am assuming that this is the case with the Safeway site here in Easton, Subsequently, that’s been the reason why that site has Remained vacant. One only has to look at the former Safeway location on West Street in Annapolis, which is now a Goodwill.
There are many commercial uses that could be applied to the Easton Safeway location. Residential is hardly one of them. I hope that the planning commission configure out what does commercial uses might be and not allow the property to be down zoned from its current zoning. Can’t wait for the public hearings!