Shoppers in Harvard Square will soon have easy access to plaid shirts, cargo pants and posters of scantily-clad models.

Next fall, Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) will be opening a store in the former location of the Tasty, an official at Cambridge Savings Bank said yesterday.

The building, located on JFK Street across from the Harvard Coop, has been under renovation since the spring and will house Cambridge Savings, A&F and two other businesses, said Nelson G. Goddard, senior vice president of Cambridge Savings Bank.

Goddard said the two other tenants are still undetermined, but acknowledged that A&F will be the lead tenant. He said he hopes to announce the other tenants soon, once negotiations are complete.

Renovation on the building, known locally as Read Block, should be completed by May, Goddard said, at which point A&F will begin moving into the space.

"In Abercrombie's case they would have to take whatever time they need to build out their space," he said. "If we turn it over to them in May, we would be looking at the August-September 1999 time frame [for opening]," Goddard said.

All the businesses in the building will be multi-floor tenants, and all will have an entrance from the street, he said.

Students had mixed reactions to A&F's Square entrance.

"Who wouldn't be excited about an Abercrombie & Fitch coming to Harvard Square?" said Natasha J. Magnuson '01, who regularly shops at the four-story A&F in Quincy Market.

Randy J. Gomes '02, who currently works at that branch of the A&F chain and wears the company's clothing daily, said the opening will be a positive for both the store and the Square.

"There will be another shopping option and it's a bold step for the company. Its aim has been more homogeneous--white, middle-class. Harvard is a diverse environment and [A&F] can broaden its scope," Gomes said.

However, Gomes said constant expansion could overexpose the brand, lessening its appeal.

Other students expressed reservations about theopening of A&F in the Square.

"I feel like it's one of those generic storesthat doesn't produce anything creative. It's kindof like McDonald's coming to the Square. It justmakes it like any other square in the UnitedStates," said Nancy H. Kim '00.

Read Block once housed some of the Square'smore unique businesses, including the Tasty andthe Wursthaus.

The Tasty, a famous 24-hour greasy spoon knownto serve cheeseburgers around the clock, wasforced to close last November to make way forCambridge Savings' renovations.

The Harvard Square Defense Fund hastraditionally opposed the square presence ofchains such as Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's.

Gladys "Pebble" Gifford, president of theDefense Fund, could not be reached for comment