Erie Briggs Street Corner Gets Restaurant, Retail

Erie retail operators can pursue remaining space on the redeveloping Briggs and Maxwell site, with construction expected in 2027.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Erie Briggs Street Corner Gets Restaurant, Retail

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The Erie Urban Renewal Authority board approved a redevelopment agreement for a vacant 13,000-square-foot property at Briggs Street and Maxwell Avenue, with Hugo and Victoria Meyer selected as preferred developers. About 5,000 square feet is planned for Malbec, a restaurant, while the remaining retail space is open to an existing Erie business seeking to expand and relocate.

Why it matters

The authority bought the property for $585,000 in 2024 to facilitate future redevelopment, and it issued a new request for qualifications in February before selecting the Meyers through a competitive review in April. For Erie operators, the deal signals that the city's urban renewal process is actively reshaping a downtown-adjacent retail corridor, with space available for relocating or expanding businesses.

The 13,000-square-foot site includes roughly 5,000 square feet earmarked for Malbec, leaving the balance of the retail footprint open to other tenants. The Urban Renewal Authority acquired the property for $585,000 in 2024, and the site currently sits vacant.

The players

Erie Urban Renewal Authority

A municipal redevelopment agency that acquires, assembles and resells blighted or underused property in Erie to enable private investment.

Hugo and Victoria Meyer

Local restaurateurs who opened Piripi on Briggs Street in 2020 and were selected as preferred developers for the Briggs and Maxwell site.

The details

The Erie Urban Renewal Authority issued a request for qualifications for the vacant corner property, then selected a preferred developer through a competitive review process. The board's approval of a redevelopment agreement moves the project from selection toward construction, which is projected to begin in 2027. The Meyers' plan pairs a restaurant anchor with space reserved for an existing local business that wants to relocate or expand.

April 2019: Hugo and Victoria Meyer moved to Erie.
2020: The Meyers opened Piripi, a Latin and Mediterranean food spot, at 615 Briggs St.
2024: The Urban Renewal Authority purchased the property for $585,000.
February 2026: The town issued a new request for qualifications for the site.
2027: Construction is expected to begin on the redevelopment.

Market Landscape

The Erie project follows the standard model used by Pennsylvania urban renewal authorities, which acquire underused property and solicit private developers through a qualifications process. It places a restaurant anchor on a corner site near Downtown Erie, where authority-led redevelopment is shaping the commercial mix.

Erie retail operators seeking space to expand or relocate should contact the Urban Renewal Authority about the remaining retail footprint at Briggs and Maxwell. Restaurant and food-service operators should note that the corridor is being positioned as a southern gateway to Downtown, which may affect foot traffic patterns over the long term.

The takeaway

Erie's redevelopment of the Briggs and Maxwell site is a clear signal that the Urban Renewal Authority is using competitive developer selection to build out downtown-adjacent retail. Businesses interested in the remaining space should ask the authority directly about lease availability and timing, since construction is not expected to begin until 2027.