The Easton development, a metropolis of outdoor and indoor mixed-use stores, offices, restaurants and gathering spots, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

The once vacant lot was purchased by The Georgetown Co. and Limited Brands, Inc., and is now home to a bustling commercial and social center that sees more than 20 million visitors per year, 10 percent of whom come from out of town.

In the middle of this 1,300-acre development is the Easton Town Center, which houses several outside gathering areas and a variety of retail shops and restaurants ranging from Apple and Tiffany & Co. to Macy’s, Martini Park and the Funny Bone Comedy Club.

Outside the Town Center are residential properties, hotels and offices. These businesses combined support more than 30,000 jobs and benefit many local charities and public institutions.

“Over the past decade, (more than) $2 million has been provided by Easton to support scholarships, cornerstone partnerships and local healthcare initiatives,” says Mike Duffy, spokesperson for Easton.

The tax revenue generated by the development also goes toward causes such as public education. Easton generates more than $100 million in taxes per year, an increase from the $5 million it generated when it was fledgling, according to Duffy. More than $10 million goes toward Columbus City Schools each year.

Easton also facilitates its “Change for Charity” program, an initiative that increases patrons’ roles in donating to charity.

“Much charitable money has been provided by Easton’s patrons,” Duffy says. “We try to emphasize to people that by putting money in (parking) meters, they are donating money to charitable organizations.”

Easton is also known for its innovative look and layout. In 2000, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) awarded Easton Town Center with its International Design and Development Award for Innovative Design and Construction of a New Project. This award is given annually to “projects that can truly be held up as examples of what can be accomplished with a lot of hard work and creativity,” according to the ICSC Web site.

Easton’s unique style and design plan have served as a precursor to outdoor centers across the country.

“In 1999, fewer than a handful of outdoor mixed-use centers existed,” says Duffy. “After its success, however, nearly every new center in the United States followed suit, although few have been able to match the size and breadth of Easton.”

Easton commemorated its 10-year anniversary earlier this year with events such as “Random Acts of Kindness,” a two-month-long ice cream giveaway to children via an Easton ice cream cart. For the adults, the development held a “10-Year Anniversary Shopping Spree” in June which gave out $10,000 in spree cash to the winner, in addition to $2,500 to the school of the winner’s choice from the Easton Community Foundation.

To celebrate the holidays, Easton is hosting Christmas Classics on the Square Dec. 6, where patrons can watch It’s a Wonderful Life on the Town Square. Also, holiday carriage rides for all start Nov. 20, along with “24 Days of Giving,” a daily random giveaway of a $50 gift card to an Easton visitor parking their car. The event ends Dec. 23, and winners will also be entered for a chance to win a $500 Easton gift card on Dec. 24.

For more information visit www.eastontowncenter.com.  

Sarah Thompson is a contributing writer for CityScene.