To search for commercial office space, residential rental units, and a wide variety of service and amenities and entertainment options in the neighborhood, check out the
Main & Clinton entry in the Interactive Map.

History

Prior to Midtown Plaza and the construction of the 26-story Chase Square office tower, Main and Clinton was a shopping district by day and an entertainment district by night. During its heyday, Main and Clinton was home to six major department stores including Sibley's, which was housed in a complex containing more than a million square feet of office and retail space. At its peak, Sibley's had six floors of retail shopping, multiple restaurants, and a gourmet grocery store. An intrepid shopper could buy a pair of skis, have a suit made, pick up some caviar, and dine in elegance - all without leaving the building.

With the construction of Midtown Plaza in 1963, downtown as a shopping district reached its peak. This complex of five office buildings and retail mall included a new hotel with a skyline restaurant, dozens of stores, an underground parking garage, and a "Class A" office tower. Unfortunately Rochester was not spared when it came to "suburban flight" and by the mid-'70s stores were closing or downsizing. By the 1990s shopping was no longer a significant factor in downtown commerce, McCurdy's, B. Forman and Sibley's had closed, and the new Midtown Plaza owners were embroiled in legal battles. Main and Clinton remained a vibrant office market but its retail function was virtually gone.

Future

The plan for Windstream Corp. to team with Pike Co. at the Midtown Plaza site is considered by many to be a keystone in the ultimate revitalization of this area in the center of downtown. However, while these projects are still in the planning stages, other factors are moving the revitalization process forward.

Festivals

Any depiction of life in downtown Rochester would be incomplete without a reference (in this case a hyperlink) to the innumerable festivals enjoyed by our residents. They include: the Rochester International Jazz Festival; the Corn Hill Festival (arts, crafts, and foods spread throughout this historic, riverside neighborhood); the Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival (held annually at the George Eastman House's Dryden Theatre and the downtown Little Theatre); the Image Out/ Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (hosted annually at the Little Theatre); the Clothesline Festival (artists from the region and beyond on the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery); the Park Avenue Merchants Festival (another local favorite that covers Park Avenue from Culver to Alexander); the Lilac Festival (world famous for its hills and dales of lilac bushes, this Festival also boasts top-shelf music and shopping); the Rochester Music Festival (a reflection of the changing music scene, the Music Festival is ever-evolving); and the Cold Rush Winter Celebration. (The Cold Rush highlights the wide range of activities available across four seasons in our region). Want to get an even closer look at what's driving the excitement about downtown living? Join this year's Inside Downtown Tour!