Exploring Downtown Rochester, New York

The "town square" as you called it was the site of Midtown Mall built in 1962, one of the first indoor malls in the country. Sadly, now gone.

I want to say I enjoyed this, you did a good job, but as someone who lived the first 30 years of my life in my hometown of Rochester, this was so depressing. I was always downtown in the late 1960s all through the 70s and in the early 80s. It is not an exaggeration at all to say that all the areas you showed here used to look like Manhattan back in the day. Tons of people everywhere, vibrant shops and restaurants and three major department stores as well as midtown plaza, which they have since torn down. I worked at many of the restaurants and they were incredible. The top of the plaza had a supper club with first rate name performers, I worked there also. Sibley's department store which is the one that takes up an entire city block on main street, was just as good as Macy's or Bloomingdale's. During the holidays, main street was jammed with thousands of people and the Christmas decorations were incredible. I know it's probably hard to imagine what I'm saying when you're walking around that largely deserted city. I see lots of ghosts as you're walking the streets, I don't mean that literally but figuratively. So many great wonderful memories. I moved to South Florida 35 years ago, and do you want to hear something really crazy? We are probably going to move back to Rochester next year. We've had four great homes down here in South florida, now have our first condo that we bought 3 years ago and we're 5 minutes from downtown Delray Beach and the ocean. I know, it sounds like paradise. And I do love it. But we have a shitload of equity in our condo, we're both pushing 70, both not in great health, and my two sisters and other family and several of my lifelong friends are all up in Rochester and I miss them. It's going to be tough leaving florida, not so much the place but the handful of people here I have made into my family. But it's getting incredibly crowded, and incredibly expensive. The traffic has become a nightmare and there's more people moving here everyday. So, though I lament the death of downtown rochester, it looks like we very well may move back there next year. Winters are going to freak me out lol, always hated them. I'll just stay in and bake bread and make soup I guess. Lol. Anyway, sorry for this long rambling comment, I did enjoy this and you did a great job.

I used lived In Rochester My ex husband got a job offer from Eastman Kodak in 1982. It was a very rich town back then. It was Small city but very beautiful but the winter was very Cold so much snow I remember those icy roads and snow plow trucks everywhere. the vehicles get so rusty bc. of Salty roads during the winter. back those days the Downtown was very popular and busy city. Especially during Holiday seasons.Friends and I used took our kids to see the big Christmas tree at the sibleys building. Good old days. I move to Texas in July.2012.No more snow. But I do Miss snowy days sometimes especially when it comes wits holidays.

Aww I visited for the first time in July 2022 to visit my Bf and I enjoyed my time in Rochester. It's a little cute small town City. It was too hot for me but overall it left a good impression on me and I'll be back there again end of Jan 2023! Very excited 😊 🤗

It’s so depressing seeing downtown Rochester in such a sad state. I literally get emotional watching this. Empty buildings, zero retail, not a soul walking down Main Street. What you didn’t experience firsthand is the widespread childhood poverty, forgotten lost souls roaming the streets and uncontrolled violent crime. My hometown is in shambles. It’s a beautiful city that deserves so much better. I left not too long ago for better opportunities out of state and although I’m still a young man, I hope that I live long enough to see Rochester bounce back. I know they’re trying. The East End at the beginning of your video is being transformed, but will it be a successful effort is the question. I would love to return to my home, a revitalized version of my home, before I die.

Biggest ghost town I've seen.

I miss my hometown. An entirely different downtown. It used to be pretty vital with lots to do (up until the mid 90s, I guess).

Sometime around 2011 I drove around Lake Ontario with an ex. We went from Toronto to Kingston to Syracuse to Rochester to Buffalo to Niagara and back to Toronto. (Way less interesting than we thought itd be.) Ive lived around the States but Rochester was particularly really depressing then. Abandoned houses with boarded up windows everywhere. Empty lots where ruined houses had been torn down. It was like Kodak left and the town was just decaying. (Sort of like Buffalo but worse.) You can imagine though back when it was having a boom and could have grown to becoming a great city.

Memories. My friends and I would jump down into the old subway and walk as far as we could until we could not see each other and the sound of rats. It was fun (circa 1978).

Thankyou i enjoyed this..I have a friend lives there ive never visited.Have a great week 🙂

Chestnut Plaza housed the Hawk and Dove bar and Midtown Athletic Club. All gone.

Lived All my life in Rochester 12:10 they filled the subway with garbage 13:05 they never take the Christmas lights down, just turn them on during holidays

Chase Bank is no longer headquartered in downtown Rochester. Now it is headquartered in Canandaigua New York.

Can or do you have video in downtown Buffalo, Ny ? Would love to see that! Amazing architectural features/ buildings and a beautiful city with a beautiful waterfront. That is if you are in the area, of course! I did visit Rochester, Ny many times back in the 80’s . Thanks for sharing this video! Nice video. Rochester has changed quite a bit! Hopefully Rochester will go through a revitalization of the downtown area.

it's sad Rochester become like ghost town just like Los Angeles i'm shocked.

I hope one day I can go to Rochester New York to see and be with my beloved Abi.

The weather in Rochester, New York is always horrendous. Out of 365 days a year you only see sun maybe 50 days.

Good architectural details. Too bad you didn’t record for another minute or so and catch the new plaza at the north end of the library

always nice to do a tour with a very handsome tour guide, thanks

honestly, Rochester could make that tunnel under the bridge into transitional housing for the homeless!! Or at least studio apartments. I know it would be noisy, but it couldn't be worse than the Go train tracks right outside your balcony. At the new condos across from Fort York in Toronto!! Balconies are literally 10 feet away from the Gardiner