In downtown Erie, the Erie Downtown Development Corporation (EDDC) continues to make progress on several projects.

Country Fair recently opened a new store next to the Flagship City Food Hall.

"Downtown is a food desert without a grocery store like this down here," said EDDC CEO Drew Whiting. "A Dollar General just doesn't cut it, so it was really important to me that we get the right partner down here to offer what's needed in this community."

Over the past year and a half, it's just one of several new businesses to set up in downtown Erie.

"In the last 18 months, we've had a climbing gym (Ascend Erie), and indoor putt-putt facility (Hazards Erie Mini Golf), we brought a cigar lounge to downtown (The Brig Cigar Lounge)." said Whiting.

According to Whiting, more changes are on the way.

"We're going to bring Serafini's into the Old Cashier's House, which will be a great new addition to downtown," said Whiting. "Dave's Diner opens right across the street from the 5th Street entrance to Country Fair, at the corner of 5th and Peach. Adjacent to that, we are working on tow other new concepts that will have food and drink and activities component to them as well, including a new Irish bar and karaoke lounge."

However, the EDDC's biggest project is the Flagship Commons, which will connect Country Fair to the Flagship City Food Hall.

"We have about 25,000 square-feet of office space to attract new businesses to this area which we have plenty of demand for," said Whiting. "We are confident we will be able to fill them well before that project is delivered."

It's all part of the EDDC's plans to make downtown Erie a destination for families and businesses.

"We're working as hard as we can to set out to do what we've been trying to do from the beginning," said Whiting. "Use real estate revitalization as a catalyst for economic redevelopment revitalization."