Directory/Retail
1st Print Comics sells new and used comic books in Gates. They are especially well known for their limited press run of 1,000 issues of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles issue 34 (IDW) with the Rochester skyline on the cover. Founded in 2009.
A Buffalo-based music store founded in 1976 by Rochester native Lenny Silver, Record Theatre eventually grew into a 21-store chain, with three stores in Rochester. The first and biggest of the three was the one at Midtown Plaza; the others were in Greece and Henrietta (the latter next to Club 747. The suburban stores were closed by 1997, while the Midtown store lasted another decade. Two stores in Buffalo remain open. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/local/rocroots/2015/10/30/whatever-happened-record-theatre/74834222/
Andy's Candies is a local manufacturer and retailer of homemade candies and chocolates. Their factory is in Rochester's Group 14621 neighborhood. Their products may be purchased at four retail locations in the surrounding area or online.
Dollar General is a chain dollar store with multiple locations in Rochester. Everything in the store does not cost one dollar—instead, merchandise is sold at even dollar or half dollar prices (ex. $5.00, $6.50, $8.00, etc.).
Dave Lane's Stereo Shop sells and installs home video and audio, and car audio. Rochester residents will probably recognize their jingle, "Stop at the Shop", which has been part of their TV and radio ads for at least a decade. The CD Exchange is located at the back of the store. Note: Please note this shop is entirely unrelated to the The Stereo Shop chain.
Side parking lot sign: 12-07 Arena's is a high-end florist and gift shop on East Avenue. In addition to flowers, they also stock a variety of jewelry, knickknacks, and art of a garden/organic style. Their store occupies two floors. Awards Voted "Best Florist" in City Newspaper's 'Best of Rochester' Awards for five consecutive years (from 2006 to 2010), and again in 2015.1 2 3456
Looking into the food court, 10-2008 Eastview is Rochester's most upscale mall, but those from much larger cities would be unimpressed by the more mid-market store selection. Eastview is home to 5 department stores (Lord & Taylor, Macy's, JC Penney, Sears, and Bon-Ton) and many more stores for every member of the family. Some notable stores unique to the Rochester market and all of upstate NY include Aldo, Ann Taylor, Apple, Arden B, Arhaus, Bombay, Cache, Clarks, Coach, Eddie Bauer, Forever 21, Godiva, Janie and Jack, J Crew, Jessica Mcclintock, Johnston and Murphy, Lindt, Pottery Barn, Sephora, Solstice, Swarovski, White House/Black Market, Williams Sonoma, and The Walking Company. Check out the store directory for a complete listing of all the stores. LL Bean will open in 2009. Eastview also features several full-service restaurants: Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano, Bonefish Grill, Champps Americana, and PF Changs Chinese Bistro. Eastview is located just over the Monroe County line in the Town of Victor. Supposedly, it was originally planned to be built in the Town of Perinton, but Perinton officials rather sensibly balked at the increased traffic and commercial sprawl that a regional mall brings. Victor officials were only too happy (at the time) to accept the consequences, and now Ontario County rakes in the sales tax revenue from tens of thousands of Monroe County residents making their purchases at Eastview and surrounding retail offerings.
Aquatic Center of Rochester is a SCUBA diving and snorkeling training and equipment, including retail, rental and service. PADI Open Water Diver certification courses are held year round. During the winter months, however, you may have to take a trip to complete the open water checkout dives. Additional certification courses are available when demand warrants; commercial certification is available. The cost of the Discover Scuba class (held on Wednesdays for people to whet their appetite for diving) may be applied to the cost of the certification course. The store also includes two big, shaggy, friendly Great Pyrenees dogs. They seem to spend most of their time collapsed on the floor, but they appreciate a good scratch.
B. Forman's was a department store and mainstay of the Rochester downtown in its heyday. B. Formans's was incorporated in 1912 and operated a store at 46 Clinton Avenue. The founder's son, Maurice Forman, later took over the business, expanded it and attracted fame by co-developing the Midtown Plaza with Gilbert McCurdy and moving the store into the plaza. Notes and References Tax Dispute Appeals Court Documents from a tax dispute argued in June 1971 and decided in 1972 contain information regarding Midtown, Forman and McCurdy. WXXI.org Memories of Midtown
A variety of merchandise for sale at the Public Market. Photo by rchappo2002 The Rochester Public Market is one of the cheapest places to shop in Rochester. It is a bit crowded, and you have to use your brain. Goods are very cheap, but there is a whole range of quality. Some vendors are selling backstock that has been sitting in a warehouse for two weeks, while others are selling vegetables that they picked the day before from their farm or backyard garden. Produce is generally very high quality and at very low prices. Many large bags/boxes of food can be bought for around $1 each. $10 could feed you for two weeks. Located just northeast of downtown. Follow the signs. Be careful, the signs may be deceiving and send you in the wrong direction or unsuspectingly onto the Inner Loop. It is recommended to look up good directions before going. Saturdays are the big day when everyone is there; Tuesdays are much lighter, and Thursdays are a happy medium. On Saturdays, parking is often a bit of an adventure, although new satellite lots on the West side of North Union Street have improved the situation in recent years. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, you'll probably be able to find a good spot inside the market grounds. "At the Market" Special Events Schedule 2011 (from http://www.cityofrochester.gov/marketevents/) Community Garage Sales: Sundays, 8:00AM to 2:00PM: Community Garage Sales have finished for 2011. Flower City Sundays 8:00AM to 2:00PM: Flow City Sundays have finished for 2011. Artist Row: Finished for 2011. Festival of Food: TBA Night Markets and Bands on the Bricks: TBA Holidays at the Market: Sundays, 8:00AM to 2:00PM - 12/4, 12/11, 12/18 Notes and References See also Union St. Market Photo Links more pictures from the public market Photos: Public Market December 2005 by RocPic.Com Photos: Public Market August 2003 by RocPic.Com Hours, directions, and more information Site of the Greatest Community Garage Sale and Bands on the Bricks. Sites of the Friends of the Public Market and Friends of the Public Market FaceBook network page and RocPubMart Flickr page. Shopping Suggestions This is a rough guide for shopping at a public market for people who aren't used to public markets. Shopping at a public market is a lot different from a grocery store, since you have many people selling goods in proximity. Instead of blindly following a metal cart down fluorescent-lit aisles, you will end up fighting crowds, meeting people, and often getting awesome deals. Don't Buy the First Thing: You need potatoes? Don't go to the first stand. Wander around. See who is selling how much at what price. Timing Matters: What you get at what price depends on what time you shop. Show up at 7:00AM, and you will find a great selection of fresh stuff, and plenty of room to move, but you will have to pay the marked price. If you show up 1/2 hour before the place closes, you can often get cheap prices as people try to dump their stuff before going home. You will also be getting all of the goods people have passed over throughout the day. Try different sellers: If you get good fresh produce at one place, you will probably get good produce from them. But there might be someone 3 stalls away selling fresh stuff for less. Shop around, check out what each vendor has for sale. Be sure to check out Juan and Maria's Empanada Stop on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. You might also try Scott's Original food stand. History The public market has been in operation since 1827, making it one of the oldest continuously operating farmers' markets in the nation. It was originally located in what is now the downtown area, and extended over the Genesee River at the west end of the Main Street Bridge. It was then later relocated to the Center Market on the east side of the river between the Andrews Street Bridge and the Sister Cities Pedestrian Bridge. In 1905 it was once again relocated to what it is now its current location off of North Union Street in the Marketview Heights Neighborhood. Awards The Public Market was voted "Best Place to People Watch" in City Newspaper's 'Best Of' Awards in 2008, and "Best Public Market" in 2009.12 Comments You may make your Public Market comments and additions on one of the following pages: Public Market/Reviews - Your Reviews of the Vendors and the Market itself Public Market/Vendors - A place for Vendor information or links to Vendor Pages or websites Public Market/Talk - Discussion about the Page itself (content, design, layout, etc.) 1http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/entertainment/guides/2008/11/BEST-OF-ROCHESTER-2008-Readers-choice/2http://rochestercitynewspaper.com/entertainment/guides/2009/11/BEST-OF-09-Readers-Choice-Shopping/
CVS 2100 Monroe Ave (585)461-3995 CVS 485 Spencerport Rd (585)247-0170 Walgreens #9585 410 Spencerport Rd. Gates (585)247-1710 Wegmans Ridgemont Plaza 2833 West Ridge Rd. (585)723-6020 Only open 24 hours till 4/27/08 Rite-Aid 529 Monroe Ave 585 244 1711 (This store closes without warning; call ahead.) References Univ Of Rochester Health 24 hour Pharmacies - list outdated Monroe County Medical Society Urgent Care Resources - includes pharmacies - Aug 2007
Penfield/Webster - BradMandell Bruegger's is a bagel shop which also does soups, salads, and sandwiches (including breakfast sandwiches). They have numerous locations in the Greater Rochester area. Addresses and phone numbers for each can be found on their New York Locations on their website and listed below. Their Southtown Plaza location accepts RIT's Tiger Bucks as payment. See Bruegger's/History for a history of the company.
Bandit's Bathhouse was a dog groomer with do-it-yourself tubs and a nice little store for your pet goodies located in the Piano Works Mall in East Rochester, NY! Bandits closed March 30, 2014.
Fanny Farmer was a confectionery factory with retail stores that was started in Rochester, New York by Canadian immigrant Frank O'Connor in 1924. The name is from Fannie Farmer, a revolutionary chef and cookbook author of the same time period. Unfortunately the store opened its doors four years after her death. The first store was opened on Main Street and quickly became successful. More stores started opening in other NY towns and cities and at its height over 350 shops were running in 22 states. In 1992 the Archibald Candy Company acquired the brand and the stores are now all closed.
Advertisement from the 1940 Rochester City Directory McCurdy's was a department store and mainstay of the Rochester downtown in its heyday. John C. McCurdy founded McCurdy's in 1901 and operated a department store at 285 East Main Street. His son, Gilbert J.C. McCurdy, later took over the business, expanded it and attracted fame by co-developing the Midtown Plaza with Maurice Forman and making McCurdy's Department Store a key player in the plaza along with B. Forman's. Gilbert McCurdy, the grandson of the founder, managed the company after his father. McCurdy sold the store to May Departments Stores in 1994, but a federal judge temporarily prohibited them from acquiring it on anti-trust grounds in November of that year. In 1995 the May Company sold the store along with three others to Bon-Ton to avoid the legal issues. See Wikipedia Article for more details. Notes and References May Co. to sell 4 McCurdy's in Rochester, N.Y., to Bon-Ton from Daily News Record , March, 1995 (Brief Article) Federal judge put brakes on May's purchase of McCurdy's - Daily News Record , November, 1994 Tax Dispute Appeals Court Documents from a tax dispute argued in June 1971 and decided in 1972 contain information regarding Midtown, Forman and McCurdy. WXXI.org Memories of Midtown
ARC Floral was a florist that was a subsidiary of the Arc of Monroe County, a nonprofit organization that provides work and training for individuals with developmental disabilities. The store serves the following areas: Rochester, Brighton, East Rochester, Gates, Henrietta and Pittsford. The Artful Gardener opened in this location in May 2010.
365 Fresh sells locally grown specialty cut flowers in the Rochester area. For the 2013 season, 365 Fresh offered flowers direct to the consumer via the CSA style 365 Fresh Flower Club, on farm through a retail stand and a soon to be announced Farmers' Market. 365 Fresh also offers flowers to florist, event planners, restaurants, D-I-Y brides/grooms and others in need of bulk flowers direct from their fields in Livonia. Visit the 365 Fresh website for more pricing, options and availability.
Sign for Anderson Alley parking off Goodman Street. 9-2008 Anderson Alley Artists is a community of professional artists and photographers occupying four floors of the Anderson Arts Building, a revitalized former shoe factory. It is located next to the Village Gate in the Neighborhood of the Arts. Anderson Alley Artists is in the process of being renamed the Anderson Art Association. Anderson Alley Artists participate in First Friday Citywide Gallery Night, featuring a different theme each month. Many of the artists also participate in an open house tradition known as Second Saturday, during which they open their studios to the public on the second Saturday of each month. Each year, there are two larger events, the Holiday Gala and Arti Gras, featuring guest artists and live music. * The Anderson Arts Building is accessible during the Holiday Gala and Arti Gras events, when there is an elevator operator. Use the North entrance of the Good Luck Restaurant. Artists: Antonino Barbagallo - Photography Janice Baylis - Jewelry Disa Baylis - Art glass beads, jewelry BOA Editions, Ltd. - Publisher Lynne Feldman - Painting, collage, and serigraphy Sharon Jeter - Functional art and jewelry Kathleen Hanney - Pastel and oil Richard Harvey - Figurative mixed media and sculpture Valerie Larsen, NWS - Painting Evelyn J. Kitson - Wall hangings and surface design Richard Margolis - Art and architectural photography Diane Phillips - Wool strips on linen Elisa Root - Painting and ceramics Timothy J. Toal - Photography Jan Hewitt Towsley - Weaving and textiles Patricia Trivino - Painting Sherry L. Tulloch - Painter and printmaker See the Neighborhood of the Arts page for other residents of the Anderson Arts Building.
Bon-Ton was a national chain department store with a total of four locations in the Rochester area. A third location at the Eastview Mall was closed in early 2012 and a fourth at the Medley Centre was closed in 2008. The remaining two locations closed in early 2013.
Just Games Rochester is a board, card, role-playing game shop in Penfield. They also carry miniatures, paints, and accessories, plus exclusive dice, out-of-print games, and more. They have over 1000 titles in stock, including the largest selection of dice on the East Coast. The store has a daily gaming events. You can find their most up-to-date calendar on their "website"
Canal Town Pet Shop & Grooming, located in Barefoot Landing Plaza in Spencerport offers grooming services available by certified professional groomers for all dog breeds and cats. Pet supplies for dogs, cats and all small animals. Fresh water fish supplies. Canal Town Pet Shop & Grooming works with Animal Service League to help find loving homes for homeless cats in Rochester. Vendors of Eagle Pack Holistic Pet Foods Now hosting Obedience Training and Doggie Playgroups, birthday parties, and more! Ellie, a standard poodle, after grooming Lily, a yorkie, after grooming Nellie, an Airedale Terrier, after groomingQualified, certified professional groomers with 14+ years experience specializing in all breeds, especially designer breeds and cats, exotics (have a long haired bunny in need of a haircut?) and also trim wings, nails, and beaks on birds. They offer to take extra time and care to train your puppy to behave for a lifetime of fun grooming sessions. Full service grooming package includes: Hair trim around the paw pads. Nails trimmed and filed. Ears plucked free from hair and cleaned. Shampoo and fluff dry. Trim or hair cut to your specifications. Choice of finishing touch (bandana or bow) Extra services: Time after 15 minutes of brushing and combing on a small dog. Any D-mat or shave down due to matting. Shave down on a bath dog. Luxury skin treatments, medicated shampoos, flea shampoo. Pick up and delivery, handling fees, aggressive dog fees. They charge a "Base Price" for a full service groom or bath for each breed. Groomings are by appointment only and average time on an average sized, non matted dog is 1 hour, 30 minutes. They offer high grade shampoos and conditioners to reduce allergic reactions. Fun and attractive finishing touches such as bows and nail painting also available. If you want your pet to have an added flair, they offer body dyes (safe for your pet, and temporary) color to enjoy. All dogs and cats require current Rabies and Distemper vaccinations before grooming. They do not accept tags as proof of vaccination.
Website Image PetSaver Superstore was a local pet store with multiple locations. They specialized in healthy natural pet food, but also carried pet supplies, treats and toys. They also provided a Vet Clinic every other Saturday and have a self-washing station. PetSaver held many in-store pet adoption events. PetSaver first opened in 1994. The business was inspired by the health problems of owner Russ Herman's rottweiler Bucky, which vets were unable to diagnose. For 2016 the owners expanded the Brighton store by another 4,000 square feet and opened a third store at Webster Plaza on April 15. For 2017 the owners opened a fourth store in Victor. In 2020, the owner converted these stores, plus his two in Buffalo, to Pet Supplies Plus chain stores to help improve his buying power. In addition he opened a 5th store in Baytowne Plaza.
The Kaleidoscope Toy Shop was a former toy store located in the Titus Mall plaza. Believed to have opened in 1985. Known as "Rochester's Largest, Most Unique Children's Specialty Store." Sold various toys like Brio Trains, Lego sets, Playmobil sets, Halloween costumes, dolls, books and other children's items. Also sold helium filled balloons. Closed in 1996. As of 2012, part of it is now a Subway restaurant, and the rest of the space is Passantino Sports.
Dorje Adornments is a piercing studio in the Alexander Neighborhood. They are located beneath Love Hate Tattoo. It is staffed by professional piercers Nick Giordano, Bonnie Harter, and Marley Sears. Nick and Bonnie each have 9 years of experience and have taken specialized classes in oral & maxofacial anatomy. Additionally, all piercers hold OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Certification, and are Red Cross first aid and CPR certified. The shop has a Tibetan Buddhist theme and private piercing rooms. All jewelry is autoclaved prior to insertion in a fresh piercing. Needles are one-time use only and disposed of in a medical sharps container. All tools are cleaned by using a three step process ending in autoclave sterilization. They spore test their autoclave weekly through an independent laboratory to ensure it is functioning properly. They have the spore test results on file since the day they opened and will be glad to share them with you. Dorje Adornments offers a wide selection of body jewelry with a heavy focus on jewelry for enlarged earlobes. Dorje carries fair trade and sustainable organic jewelry, much of which is made by local artists. All their initial piercing jewelry is implant grade and manufactured in America. Photos