The greater Rochester area welcomed a number of new businesses, and the return of at least three, in 2024.
Included in this roundup are 26 notable ones. Most are stores, and a few sell food. However, Democrat and Chronicle food and drink writer Tracy Schuhmacher is covering restaurant openings in a separate story.
ALDI, Irondequoit
A new ALDI store opened in June at 1733 E. Ridge Road in Irondequoit. Founded in 1946 in Germany and headquartered in Illinois, the chain is in the midst of a massive U.S. expansion. In recent years, the company has seen a surge in business as consumers continue to economize.
Anthology
After a more than two-year absence, Rochester nightclub Anthology is reopening to host back-to-back concerts Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20 and 21, by Rochester-based touring act Joywave. The venue at 336 East Ave. closed in the summer of 2022. Anthology has not announced what its plans will be going forward.
The Bagel Shop by Fox’s
At the end of 2024, brothers Alex and Jason Rheinwald, owners of Fox’s Deli in Brighton, opened a cozy bagel shop at the corner of Park Avenue and Oxford Street. The Bagel Shop by Fox’s is geared especially toward neighborhood residents looking for a quick grab-and-go nosh. The shop at 360 Park does not have seating, but it will likely have a few tables outside in nice weather.
Barnes & Noble, Eastview Mall
Retail giant Barnes & Noble opened a store in March at Eastview Mall in Victor, just inside Entrance 2 between Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma. The location reflects the chain’s current books-first strategy. The store also sells magazines, newspapers, gifts, stationery, educational toys and more. Other Barnes & Noble locations here are in Greece, Pittsford and Webster and at the University of Rochester’s College Town.
Bob’s Discount Furniture
In August, off-price furniture giant Bob’s Discount Furniture opened its first store in western New York in Henrietta’s Market Square Plaza, 790 Jefferson Road. The Connecticut-based chain sells discount furniture, mattresses, rugs and home décor.
Brand Bar II
It’s a high-end women’s boutique. It’s a bar. It’s both. Brand Bar II opened this past summer at 240 High St. Extension is Victor’s High Point development across from Eastview Mall.
The business is the brainchild of longtime fashion buyer Anna Mullett, and it’s meant to provide customers with “more of an experience” than a typical shopping outing, she said.
The store, carrying her curated assortment of clothing, footwear, jewelry, handbags and more, is filled with plush seating areas for socializing and relaxing. The bar serves beer, wine and “girly drinks like espresso martinis and margaritas,” Mullett said. “But we have whiskey, too, because we do have that husband-and-wife duo coming in.”
A Greece native who now lives in Clarence, Erie County, Mullett opened Brand Bar I in Williamsville, Erie County, in July 2023.
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Greece
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream opened in December at 824 Long Pond Road in Greece. The business sits next to a plaza anchored by Flight West Wine & Whiskey Bar and the Great American Diner. Bruster’s winter hours, now in effect, are noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday; noon to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Owner Jay Negrin is a 1993 graduate of Greece Athena High School, which isn’t far from the shop. Negrin opened his first Bruster’s in September 2022 at 1930 East Ridge Road, Irondequoit.
Central Bark
In January, father and son Phil Clark Sr. of Victor and Phil Clark Jr. of Pittsford opened the first Central Bark doggy daycare franchise in New York state. It’s at 65 Saginaw Drive in Henrietta. Featuring about 6,800 feet of space indoors and 2,000 outdoors, the facility isn’t far from the U.S. Postal Service office on Jefferson Road. Founded in 2003, Central Bark has nearly 40 locations in a dozen U.S. states. The approach is “whole dog care” — a blend of exercise, training, socialization and rest — but safety is the top priority, Phil Clark Jr. said.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
On Dec. 11, the city of Rochester got its second Chipotle Mexican Grill. It’s at 2000 East Ave., not far from Record Archive. Hours are 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The location has a drive-thru pick-up lane where customers can pick up digital orders without leaving their cars. The city’s first Chipotle is at College Town.
Columbia Sportswear factory outlet
A Columbia Sportswear factory outlet store opened in August in Pittsford Plaza, 3349 Monroe Ave. The Oregon-based chain sells outerwear, sportswear, footwear and accessories.
Crumbl Cookies, Brighton
A Crumbl Cookies store opened in March at 2780 Monroe Ave., Brighton, in the Whole Foods Market Plaza. It is the Rochester area’s third Crumbl franchise — the other two are in Henrietta and Victor. The chain’s menu consists of six of more than 250 rotating flavors. Known for their sweetness and massive size (4½ inches around), the cookies can be bought individually and in four-, six- and 12-packs.
Dave’s Hot Chicken
In November, Los Angeles-based Dave’s Hot Chicken, which specializes in large, hot chicken tenders and sliders, opened in a former Boston Market space at 942 Jefferson Road, Henrietta. It’s first Dave’s restaurant in the Rochester area and the 13th in New York state; most are in the New York City metropolitan area.
Donutchew
In February, Donutchew opened its first New York state location in BayTowne Plaza at 1900 Empire Blvd. in Penfield near Webster. A fusion of traditional American doughnuts and Japanese mochi (rice cakes), mochi doughnuts originated in Hawaii and have a lightly crispy exterior and soft, springy interior. Donutchew, which is based in Northern Virginia, serves more than a dozen flavors that change daily, as well as macaroons, croffles — a croissant/waffle mashup — and bubble tea. Michael Blair of Rochester is one of five partners in the franchise.
Ethan Allen, Pittsford
Furniture store and design studio Ethan Allen opened in April in Pittsford Square, 3240 Monroe Ave., across from Pittsford Plaza. There also is an Ethan Allen on an outparcel at Eastview Mall in Victor. Open since 1972, eventually it will close, making the Pittsford store the sole Ethan Allen location in this market, said third-generation owner Jared Roth.
Flamingo Patio
Flamingo Patio, selling high-end outdoor patio furniture made from wicker and aluminum, opened in the Von Maur wing at Eastview Mall. Locally owned, Flamingo Patio also has a store in Buffalo.
The Fun House
Children’s entertainment center The Fun House opened in August at The Mall at Greece Ridge. Owner Foluso Odeyale of Henrietta said he had wanted to start his own business for a while and after visiting children’s entertainment centers in other markets with his young family, he believed there was a need here. The attraction, inside Entrance 9 and across from Ulta Beauty, is divided into three sections: a play area with slides and a ball pit, a game arcade and ride rentals.
Fun Spot Arcade
Fun Spot Arcade, featuring more than 50 arcade games, new and classic, opened in a spot in the Eastview Mall food court between Famous Wok and Showcase. Games are pay to play, but they use cards instead of tokens.
La Vie en Rose
Lingerie and swimwear retailer la Vie en Rose opened in the JCPenney wing of Eastview Mall, next to American Eagle. It’s the Montreal, Quebec-based company’s second U.S. location. The first is at Destiny USA in Syracuse.
Miss Sweet Potato Pie World
Miss Sweet Potato Pie World, a center for children’s entertainment and education that hosts birthday and graduation parties and other celebrations, opened in July near the east entrance to Marketplace Mall in Henrietta. The business is the brainchild of Dianne Snowden-Johnson, a teacher in the Rochester City School District who has been performing as Miss Sweet Potato Pie at events around town for more than two decades.
Rochester Emergency Veterinary Services
Rochester Emergency Veterinary Services opened its doors Feb. 1 at 1150 University Ave. in the same building as Animal Hospital of Rochester. The nonprofit practice has been receiving patients from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays and around the clock on weekends. In September, it got two major charitable gifts, one from the Paul Klingenstein Family Foundation and one from Tom Golisano. Totaling $2 million, the donations will allow the fledgling practice to move to larger quarters at 445 W. Commercial St. in East Rochester (pictured above), hire more staff and expand its hours and services.
Rose City Drive-In
After nearly 40 years, the Rose City Drive-In just outside Newark got a sequel. In April, lifelong Newark resident Paul Cole reopened the cinema under the stars at 5418 Route 31, which had been sitting idle since 1985. First, he had to clear the overgrown vegetation and renew the screen, install a state-of-the-art 55,000-lumen laser projector and digital marquee and build a new 2,400-square-foot concession building. The reviews (on Google) are glowing.
Ross Dress for Less, Victor
The Rochester market’s second Ross Dress for Less store opened in July in Cobblestone Court Plaza across from Eastview Mall. The space previously was home to a Dick’s Sporting Goods store. Ross sells discounted apparel and home goods in a no-frills setting. The California-based chain has more than 1,700 locations in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. The Rochester area’s first store opened in October 2023 in Westgate Plaza in Gates.
rue21
Rue21, a specialty retailer that caters to young men and women, has reopened in its former spot near Entrance 6 at The Mall at Greece Ridge. The chain had closed all its stores, including three in the Rochester region, in May after entering bankruptcy. Now, new rue21 owner, Toronto-based YM, has reopened some of them.
Salty Boutique
In November, after six years, local entrepreneur Tanvi Asher relocated her Salty Boutique from 749 Park Ave. to Eastview Mall. The store — selling women’s clothing and jewelry, as well as gifts and home goods — occupies the former Brighton Gifts space near Anthropolgie, Madewell and Free People.
Shake Shack
In July, New York City-based Shake Shack opened at 245 Clay Road at Jefferson Road in Henrietta. It’s the popular burger joint’s first location in New York state north of Westchester County and off the Thruway. A second location will open in 2025 in Greece.
X-Golf Pittsford
X-Golf Pittsford, an indoor golf facility and bar in Pittsford Plaza, features eight state-of-the-art golf simulators, a full bar and large TVs for watching sports. A short menu of casual fare includes house-made guacamole, house-fried seasoned potato chips, a soft pretzel, chicken wings, pizza cupcakes and more.
The California-based franchise claims to have the most accurate indoor golf simulators on the market, and the only simulator that can do accurate putting. Players may take on the world’s top courses, compete in a variety of game formats and improve their swings.
This story includes reporting by Tracy Schuhmacher and Victoria Freile.
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments and has an interest in retail news. Send story tips to [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.
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