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Midtown Plaza

16 July 2008 Comments Written by: Alicia O.

I have held off on commenting on Midtown for a long time, though quietly I have been forming opinions on its demolition as well as the other projects going on downtown. Midtown is difficult issue to discuss for many of us Rochestarians. Many of us have memories of visiting it and many of our parents, grandparents and other family members tell us of all its splendor back in the good ol’ days.

http://www.rocpic.com/downtown/midtown/christmas/mtxmas02.jpg

There was McCurdy’s and Sibley’s and a Wegmans. Everyone was downtown. People dressed up and walked around near Midtown just to be seen. You could buy hats and grab lunch–it was just a great place to be.

Despite the fact that Midtown was the first fully enclosed shopping center built in a downtown area, by the 1980s it could no longer compete with both budding and thriving suburban malls in the area. I think this is really the main reason for its demise. Of course, other factors are linked, but don’t listen to those who say that the mall deteriorated because of people shoplifting or crime. Those things happened, but aren’t a primary factor, merely a sign of the crumbling plaza. Also, when those anchor stores pulled out and left Rochester altogether, or embarked on plans for suburban locations, the mall really suffered. A mall needs major anchor stores like Macy’s and Sears for people to go to. These big stores with reliable brand names draw people in to make major purchases. This allows small and medium size boutiques to set up and thrive as well.

As someone who actually went to Midtown on occasion, I must say that I am not upset with the plans to tear it down so that Paetec can rebuild the site and move in. We have held onto Midtown for a long time, but I think this plan brings a great deal of promise. People like to cry, “but it’s Midtown!!” But, the same people that cry this never go there. It’s only a memory for them. There was a time when I would’ve liked to see it stay, but why not support change and new life? It’s exactly the kind of project we could have hoped for–that is, a private company investing in downtown and showing its support. Since Paetec has signed on for this project ESL and other companies have also discussed moving business downtown.

I hope that at some point we will see better shopping in the downtown area, but at this point, the infrastructure really isn’t conducive to that. Hopefully, with stores clustered out around the area, instead of indoors, people will walk around the streets more often. We need ground level shops facing out toward the streets. I don’t care that it’s Rochester, people, put on a coat! Also, with Paetec as an anchor, I am sure that we will see more great things to come.

You can actually see a brief history of Midtown Plaza and get recent news on the Paetec project at the Midtown Rising website.

What do you think? Any memories of Midtown?

P.S. the clock and totem pole will remain in existence, in case you didn’t know!

Tags: Downtown Development, Mayor Duffy, McCurdy's, Midtown Plaza, Paetec, Rochester

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Andrew Slominski 4 months ago 1 point
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This is a great article Alicia because it really outlines what a lot of people who are 'in the know' really feel. As much as people want to feel sentimental about Midtown, the fact is that it's not doing very well. The people who put up the fuss are the same people that led to the mall's demise by frequenting GreeceRidge and Marketplace etc. without regard to the consequences. Personally I don't think we need a mall downtown at all. Why not cater to shops that will fill the needs of the people who still shop downtown? I think ground-level stores that open to the street are the answer. Above all, let the free market decide! If the people who change buses every day right there would all frequent a certain type of store then let it be up to the entrepreneurs to figure that out. We're not going to be able to force change downtown, but I believe Paetec is leading the way by doing the right thing.

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David 3 months ago 1 point
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I am also saddened by Midtown Plaza closing and I shopped there for many years. Hopefully, PAETEC will save the tower and atrium. If new stores and restaurants are added, even better. I personally do not believe that crime led to Midtown´s demise. There were far more serious problems at Greece Ridge earlier this year and it is not dead yet. As for Sears and Macy´s, those two stores are also at Medley Centre in Irondequoit. Both of them are as dead as the mall they are in. If Peebles was not downtown, Midtown Plaza would have been a lot worse. For a desolate shopping center, it had a decent amount of stores and restaurants. I will definitely miss seeing familiar faces and going downtown to shop or eat.

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http://www.midtownmallrocs.com