I love this video - all of it is hysterical and beyond corny. Best part of it (which may be posted elsewhere on youtube) is shows a bulldozer pushing a pile of dirt for construction - and the narrator says, "The bulldozer...tough, but gentle." What the HECK is gentle about a bulldozer? LOL
This wasn't just ANY old Mall - but the VERY FIRST INDOOR MALL IN AMERICA! Up on the mezanine level was a bronze plaque bolted to the wall. The famous clock is now in the Rochester, NY airport. Unfortunately for the public, it's on the secured side where only passengers can go. (Dumb move.)
The mall was leveled in 2011, to make room for a local company's new HQ. Then they got bought out and it may never be built. Dumb move #2.
@tedtw It was the first URBAN indoor mall. The first indoor mall, Southdale, opened in Minnesota in 1956. That one's still there, on account of it being built in the country (which eventually turned into the classy suburb of Edina).
Was this one of the first malls? A&Ps went away from my state about 20 years ago. Before the malls came everywhere, evertone went "downtown" now they're all ghost towns now. But even malls are closing down in towns here because of the drugs and gangs and ghettos that now clog my town.
I was born in Rochester NY nad had some cool memories of Midtown (especally Xmas) both there and Sibley's across the street were very fashionable at the time. the decline began in the mid 1970's w./ inner city crime growing and suburbian offerings. it was finally closed in 2008 and is scheduled for demolition.
Good old Rochester. I wonder what the people who made this video would have said if someone had told them that 47-48 years later the building would be torn down. I LOVE ROCHESTER
I remember being little my mother was a buyer for Mccurdy's. We always came up the exculator into the little wegmans and went through the secret door in the shoe shop to get to her office. I remember Magic mountain and the monorail and looking at the fountain while eating a doughnut. I had no idea what in important roll that mall played in urban developments everywhere until i recently did research on it. Even here in Nova Scotia Canada we have a down town mall based on the concept of this one.
In 1974 my parents (I was in Jr High) bouth me a sports coat at McCurdy's the one in Pittsford Plaza! Perhaps your mother selected the "line" it was from.
As of right now, Midtown Plaza is being gutted for demolition. I didn´t think that it would happen so quickly, but it is. I´m just glad I don´t have to see a huge mistake in the making. Old Irondequoit Mall still sits vacant awaiting another redevelopment project.
That mall looks surprisingly modern! The only things different are the cars, products and the way people dress. I still seem some racists cannot get out of THAT era either...
Rochester is seriously the most depressing city I've ever seen. During college, I was a victim of a drive-by shooting and several of my friends were mugged at gun or knife point. Someone should do this country a favor and burn this city to the ground and start fresh.
Whose from WAAAY upstate NY? You're surrounded by MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of us in ALL parts of the country - 99.9% just smile at you and PRETEND to be "liberal".
In four years when this clock is moved (again), I do not expect it to be in full working order. Optimation threw her back together. Restoration? More like repairs and a paint job. Don´t get me wrong, I really enjoyed seeing and hearing our Clock of Nations!
I went to go see our Clock of Nations on Saturday. While I was at the Greater Rochester International Airport, I spotted several restoration flaws. Israel´s puppet station shakes for at least 30 seconds after its door closes. In Canada´s puppet station, the horse no longer gallops. There was one point where it did not move at all. Scotland´s puppet station is partly exposed near where the bottom covering screws on. It is like they did not care about how each one went on. Continued...
the clock now doesn't look or sound like that anymore. i see the clock just about every other day now and it is completely different. i kind of like it how it was before.
I was almost too late to see the plaza for the last time - and I wouldn't have, if I didn't go to the one-day charity auction which cleared out most of the remaining furniture and fixtures remaining in the place.
Kinda sad - seeing the whole place empty and devoid of people. I almost wish I had made my last visit when it was still open.
Not a lot of people showed up to see Midtown Plaza on its closing day. Mayor Bob Duffy confused everybody when they had that tribute to Midtown in December of last year. This is also why nobody from City Hall even bothered to show up as well. They sure showed up for the auction!
My memories of Midtown and the Clock of Nations date back to 1963. I loved the mall and was always fascinated by the clock. I left the area in the early 80s so I was not aware of the downfall of Midtown. How sad as it was quite a shopping hub in those days. I was glad to see that the clock has been restored and is now at the airport before being permanently installed at Strong.
You will also be glad to find out that you cannot see our Clock of Nations without a boarding pass! I was at the airport today and a security guard told me so. According to Monroe County, we can only see this timepiece during the holiday season. Maggie Brooks´ little rule will backfire soon.
I also visited Midtown Plaza for the last time yesterday. I took a lot of pictures and shot some more video clips for my documentary. I also met some nice people and will miss seeing familiar faces. Matt, our Clock of Nations left Midtown in April and was restored. You can see it at the Greater Rochester International Airport soon, but I am not sure when.
Although I no longer live in Upstate NY, I made a last visit to Midtown Plaza yesterday. Today is the last day it is open to the public. The memories of shopping at McCurdy's (their 7-layer cake was to die for) B.Forman, Casual Corner, All Day Sunday etc. etc. As a kid I always wanted to dive off the stairs into the pool & fountain. So sad to see it go.
Originally from Rochester, I am looking for an old working friend I worked at B. Forman's in the 1964-65, one of my friends and I went to watch the clock, we were on the 6PM news, she was black from the Carolina's, my parents were furious, I remained friends with her, I married, moved out of state, my husband was in the Air Force, still haven't returned. Miss Midtown Mall
This video nearly brought tears to my eyes. As a born and bred Rochestarian, I remember vividly what Midtown was in the 70's and 80's, and I cannot believe what this city has come to as a whole, let alone what has become of Midtown. About 3 years ago at Christmas time, I went back to Midtown for the first time in ages, and brought my kids with me, hoping to see some of the magic it held for me as a child. I left there, heartbroken and disappointed. Losing Midtown will really be a shame.
I grew up in Rochester during the 90s and I always remembered Midtown plaza being a shopping center and a community center. My mother was very upset when Wegsman left (mainly because they wanted more money...greedy fucks.) My sister and I loved to ride the monorail through Magic mountain. I'll always miss seeing the everyday people of Rochester...the poor...the working... and the children!!!
I also remember going to Wegmans and the IGA that was in Midtown for a short time. I even remember All Day Sunday and Record Theatre. Don't think I was ever in McCurdy's or Forman's. I'll always remember Magic Mountain, the Monorail, and the Clock of Nations. To this day, I still shop and dine at Midtown. It's a shame that some of the tenants will be displaced before the mall closes. You can thank Mayor Duffy for that. He simply doesn't give a crap about his city or its residents.
Whereabouts did you grow up in Rochester? I grew up on North and Alphonse St. from the mid 80's to the mid 90's. In fact, I just got the sign from Grove's Port Delux last weekend! Don't know if you remember that or not. Anyway, I have a ton of Midtown Plaza related video clips on YouTube if you would like to take a look.
So your earliest/only memories of Midtown are from when it was already shit. Sad. How long could you have been living out of town at your young age to "miss" the city so much, unless you moved away with your family while you were still a kid?
I would have given Mayor Duffy $16,000.00 cash for the Clock of Nations. Why should it go to the airport? Those suburbanites don't even deserve a piece of asbestos from the floor tile! It should stay in Rochester, not the Town of Gates. The Chase Tower or the Sibley Tower would have been nice places to store our fabled timepiece. Why should Strong get the clock? I'd rather see it in the museum. Where exactly is the Monorail going? Please keep me informed.
I was there for Midtown Plaza's very last birthday. The funny thing is that hardly anybody gave a crap. It's a good thing I didn't make a public spectacle out of the occasion. I'm disappointed in the suburbanites who forgot about Midtown and allowed it to die a horrible death. Like Greece Ridge is any better, ha! Security is everywhere during the weekend now because Wilmot is afraid of it becoming another Irondequoit Mall! Scott Congel's Medley Centre is deader than Midtown by a long shot!
It has been announced that the clock of nations will be going to the Rochester airport until 2012 and then it will be donated to the childrens hospital to be put in an atrium that is yet to be built. I remember going to see that when I was younger and thought it was pretty cool. I'm glad it's staying local.
Does anyone even care or have they given up and said lets just focus on the suburbs? And they wonder why nobody stays there after graduation...College grads want to live in the city and enjoy their 20's not commute a half hour from the suburbs each day.
The real problem with midtown is a) it is surrounded by poverty b) people work downtown but live in the suburbs. Until those obstacles are addressed, a mall was going to have no chance. Im curious to see if the idea to turn midtown into an office park surrounded by a pretty walking area will ever come true. Its such a shame how run down downtown rochester has become.
PO2716, Midtown Plaza does not seem to be as bad as it used to be. I have not had a drug addict ask me for cash in a few years. The A&P you're referring to was in Pittsford Plaza in 1963. I wish Governor Paterson and Mayor Duffy would reconsider the Midtown demolition. David Paterson is a very intelligent man but he seems to be following in Eliot the pimp's footsteps. Word on the street is that an antique dealer purchased the Clock of Nations. Is this true?
Keep in mind this type of film was/is sponsored by the business community to increase profit. Thus it makes properous business the ultimate sign of quality of life and happiness. Pure propaganda of course.
I was born and raised in Rochester (don't live there any longer) and my heart breaks watching this. The mall is exactly my age and I remember going there as a child with my grandmother. So vibrant, full of life and promise. That was the place to be. Watched this video and thought hard of the promise at the time, the hope for the future. I pray for the best to downtown Rochester. It was once a bustling, exciting place. Haven't been there in a long time, sadly. Thanks for posting.
Why was my other comment removed? Some of my relatives did in fact work on Midtown Plaza while it was being built. That's the main reason why I've shot more footage of this landmark than anybody on YouTube. Seriously, you board trolls need to find another day job. Why censor me? What's the point? Before you click spam again, grow some balls and meet me in person! I'll be at Midtown this weekend.
Why was my comment removed? Do people not want to hear that our Monorail is still up at Midtown Plaza in February? Check out my channel, I'm not lying. Also, the mall does look run down. That my friends is a fact. Don't get me wrong, I love Midtown and I'd hate to see it get demolished but poor maintenance has led to the mall looking like father time wreaked havoc. Of course, I don't expect to look much better when I am 45 going on 46.
It's really odd, I was at Midtown Plaza every weekend during the holiday season and the entire mall looked beautiful. I went there yesterday with my family and Midtown looks like father time took a serious beating to it. Not to mention, our Monorail is still up! I have an idea, the owners of Midtown should run it until the mall closes. This time, us adults should get an opportunity to have one last ride and to hell with the consequences!
Some of my relatives actually worked on Midtown Plaza. This will be the year it supposedly comes down. I wonder if the City of Rochester is going to go through with the demolition? I have a feeling that when and if Midtown closes, it will end up like our Fast Ferry, abandoned and Mayor Duffy will be struggling to find a buyer.
My dad supervised the construction of Midtown. He passed away in Sept. As a little girl, I was in the building when it was just steel beams. I'm glad he never found out it was being taken down. I grew up in Brighton and my mom didn't drive. We did all our shopping downtown. Bus service was good and we went everywhere in the city. Midtown was a happening place in the 60s. The city planners should read some of the very positive suggestions and comments made on this site.
Delightful. I remember well this construction. That it would last only 40 years is sad. No matter how far away we have moved, there's still something about Rochester.
Another crazy idea would be to convince the tenants in Medley Centre to move their stores to Midtown. If you've been to Medley (formerly Irondequoit Mall), you already know that it is ten times deader than Midtown Plaza. Heck, the Food Court is 100% vacant! The only spot in the mall that gets any kind of traffic is the Medley Kids play area! Even that could be moved to Midtown Plaza. Let's get the people back to Downtown Rochester!
Here are my ideas for saving Midtown Plaza. Put an Aldi's where Wegmans used to be, put a Target store where McCurdy's once was, fill the other vacant storefronts with stores that are beneficial for any shopping mall to survive, and put a Rochester Police Dept. Net Station in Midtown. Another idea would be to have live events at the mall every weekend. It's happening now but only because this is the holiday season and Midtown could very well be demolished next year.
I live in Salem OR now and this post brought me down memory lane. I worked downtown most of the 45 years that I lived there but its a shame that the city closed up at 5pm. I work in downtown Salem now and it has a vibrant downtown because there are places to shop,to eat or hear a band after 5pm. No urban sprawl here and better land management. Any city should take a look and how we do it in Oregon!
I have watched this video at least a dozen times and I even created my own Midtown Plaza tribute video that is on YouTube. It is a shame that Midtown will be demolished. I would love to see it revitalized. As a little boy, I remember riding the Monorail and going up Magic Mountain to see Santa. I am shocked that the owners of Midtown didn't set up Magic Mountain before Midtown Family Day on December 1st.
Wow. Brings back memories. It's really a shame. Now it's even getting to the point where you can't go to a suburban mall for fear of the gangs and thugs that hang out there. I still love Rochester though. Can't beat it.
im goin there tonight for the last time, before its knocked down.
i come from a long line of ironworkers so my granfather probobly helped build the original mall, ill probobly end up being involved in building what wil take its place- the new paytec building- BLECH!! stupid paytec. bring back the mall!!! i miss xmas time there! :( nice film find though!
Well, Rochester is still a "City of Quality" in my book. This is really cool, but depressing. To think its gonna be turned into another telecom so sad.
As for Rochester being dangerous, the majority of the crimes happen in just a few neighborhoods. Stay out of them and its a great place.
Rochester in the 60-70s was a good place to grow up. i made my escape, but it wasn't crime or the economy, it was watching my cars rust away. so i moved to phoenix. now i can take my family downtown at night and be fairly safe. fairly with 4+ mil ppl means a ccw and .40 cal.
What a reminder of the happiness I found as a child being in downtown Rochester and the excitement of the monorail,seeing Santa, the huge Christmas tree, going to the stores and restaurants in Midtown! I'm so sad to hear that this piece of history will be turned to rubble! Why can't we bring life back to Midtown Plaza and downtown Rochester? If other cities can draw people to their downtowns, why can't we do something that will work?
I work across the street from Midtown. I moved to ROC from South FL a year ago. I live just east of Downtown on East Ave. I've found that the people of ROC are REALLY closed minded. That has contributed to Roc's demise. Everyone is afraid to go downtown. There's a lot of quiet racism behind it. Downtown is not dangerous. It has lots of blacks and latinos and for some reason the whites see that as dangerous. It's really a shame because the city has so much potential.
are you on drugs?62 murders so far...as of 10/7/07...been in Rochester all my life -4 yrs in the Coast Guard...Downtown blows..It's not white people killing each other.You don't know Rochester...Rochester was a great city...My Grandmother use to live in Jefferson Ave back in the early 60's..
Please, let's give the racism card a rest. How about the fact that Kodak going under, Bausch & Lomb and Xerox both severely cutting down their presence in Rochester. I've lived in the actual city of Rochester for 20 years and you can't tell me that closed-mindedness is the downfall of Rochester. Economy is the villain here.
I work in downtown Rochester at the present time right across from Midtown. Yes there is a mix of people there, but we do not see violence in Midtown. It is well patrolled and safe. I have been downtown many times for Hockey and other events and never felt threatened in downtown Rochester. So all you sissies just go hide under your bed and listen to someone else tell you lies about downtown Rochester.
Midtown and Irondequoit will never be able to survive the feeling of danger that is there. It's all right to say racism keeps us white folks away, but I've seen gang confrontations, fights, threatening behavior in both places, and, well, it takes very few of these to keep folks away. Even if these disruptions were caused by middle aged Presbyterians, us folks with money, cars and choices would scamper off.
Aw, That was Great! I was just at the mall Yesterday, cutting through to an office in the old Sibley building, and of course, stopping at Peebles. I stopped for a bagel lunch, watched someone looking at the clock, and wanted to go over and talk of old times, but chickened out.
what a shame..ive watched this plaza go from "the place" to go shopping to a pit of bums, panhandlers, and scumbags....no one wants to go downtown anymore....
That "2000 car parking garage" line didn't mention the hassle it was to get down there due to bumber to bumber conditions at the busy hours, the gas fumes, the oily, depressing concrete levels, and the ultrasonic car detectors that drove you crazy if you were young enough to have ears sensitive enough to hear them. But Sibley's cheese bread made it all worthwhile.
I think the Sibley's cheese bread you refer to was actually Salt Rising Bread. We used to call it Stink Bread. You can find sources by googling "Where can I buy Salt Rising Bread." I got some, and it was just like I rememembered from Sibley's.
ah, that was fun :) going to Midtown was always a big deal when I was a kid - the clock, the monorail at Christmas, orange crullers at Sibley's ;) then Always on Sunday came in at it was never the same. It sure was lily-white back then!
I hate to say it but you notice what kind of people were in the video???you go downtown at night now you better bring you 357 mag!!!!even the daylight downtown sucks.
That simply isnt true. Downtown is safe, the neighborhoods north and west aren't. Thats the same reason Irondeqouit Mall nearly emptied is because of exaggerated problems and a hint of racism.
Yes. There are other more relevant attributes that people in these areas have in common - economic issues, lack of opportunity... To imply that violence is some how related to skin color *is* racist.
I ate lunch in the food court at Midtown twice a week for two years and never had any sort of problem - I've never even witnessed any violence there.
I grew up in Irondequoit (my parents still live there)...we'd always go downtown at Christmastime to ride the monorail and the Christmas train (which I think was on the 2nd floor of Sibleys...anyone else remember that?)
I'd like to see the whole video of Rochester from a 1963 perspective - any chance that can be posted here?
its like this, kodak was started in rochester. it did great, up untill fuji film came out. chinese people will work for next to nothing, now the chinese dont sell kodak in there country, they just exploit ours. it got so bad kodak had to sell off,now a lot of good people are out of jobs, so the citys going to hell.
so what area in midtown mcurdys and formans used to be? was mccurdys 1st floor? its been so long since i have been in midtown before it went downhill.
This video makes an interesting and remarkable contrast to the documentary film "Summer of '64," which depicts the levels of poverty and joblessness that existed for the people you can't see in this film.
The message of "quality" people, "quality" jobs and "quality" incomes is clear. No wonder this city (that I have grown to love) was called Smugtown!
I'm not sure this is from '63. I worked there recently, and it looks the same now :) Great video! Thanks RG&E!! I think that Genesee fever has been eradicated too...
I remember Uhuru, the African Boutique. A very special store.
WriterEdits 4 months ago
Oh how I remember Bob Loblows
brianfwhite 4 months ago
I love this video - all of it is hysterical and beyond corny. Best part of it (which may be posted elsewhere on youtube) is shows a bulldozer pushing a pile of dirt for construction - and the narrator says, "The bulldozer...tough, but gentle." What the HECK is gentle about a bulldozer? LOL
tedtw 6 months ago
This wasn't just ANY old Mall - but the VERY FIRST INDOOR MALL IN AMERICA! Up on the mezanine level was a bronze plaque bolted to the wall. The famous clock is now in the Rochester, NY airport. Unfortunately for the public, it's on the secured side where only passengers can go. (Dumb move.)
The mall was leveled in 2011, to make room for a local company's new HQ. Then they got bought out and it may never be built. Dumb move #2.
tedtw 6 months ago
@tedtw It was the first URBAN indoor mall. The first indoor mall, Southdale, opened in Minnesota in 1956. That one's still there, on account of it being built in the country (which eventually turned into the classy suburb of Edina).
iraleecantellia 3 months ago
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Maksim021 7 months ago
I loved Midtown as a kid. This video is a reminder of what was.
What has happened since 1963?
JSMTECH 7 months ago
which nation was the music at 1:16
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sjoegriffith 1 year ago
The truth is that the clock hardly ever worked.
cocojomo 1 year ago
Was this one of the first malls? A&Ps went away from my state about 20 years ago. Before the malls came everywhere, evertone went "downtown" now they're all ghost towns now. But even malls are closing down in towns here because of the drugs and gangs and ghettos that now clog my town.
Sheri451 1 year ago
I was born in Rochester NY nad had some cool memories of Midtown (especally Xmas) both there and Sibley's across the street were very fashionable at the time. the decline began in the mid 1970's w./ inner city crime growing and suburbian offerings. it was finally closed in 2008 and is scheduled for demolition.
yaywhewclips242 1 year ago
I remember 4 Wegmans at that time, The Manger Hotel (where President JFK stayed and left his boxers), and Donuts Delight. and Loblaws.
Tionekate1 2 years ago
Apparently there were no Black people in Rochester in 1963.
ttwsglen 2 years ago
Couldn't show 'em.
cydcharisse6 2 years ago
Oh, but they sure showed up and did the same thing that they did to all the old neighborhoods we lived in back then.
barmar11555 2 years ago
That was yesteryear.... Oh how things have changed! I love Rochester, but it is not the city it used to be. I hope it will turn around.
itasara 2 years ago
Good old Rochester. I wonder what the people who made this video would have said if someone had told them that 47-48 years later the building would be torn down. I LOVE ROCHESTER
RochesterFICS 2 years ago 5
Imagine if we could go back to 1963 and warn everybody at Midtown Plaza when this video was filmed!
hondolespaul 2 years ago
I remember being little my mother was a buyer for Mccurdy's. We always came up the exculator into the little wegmans and went through the secret door in the shoe shop to get to her office. I remember Magic mountain and the monorail and looking at the fountain while eating a doughnut. I had no idea what in important roll that mall played in urban developments everywhere until i recently did research on it. Even here in Nova Scotia Canada we have a down town mall based on the concept of this one.
gravijiga 2 years ago
@gravijiga:
In 1974 my parents (I was in Jr High) bouth me a sports coat at McCurdy's the one in Pittsford Plaza! Perhaps your mother selected the "line" it was from.
tradercris 2 years ago
As of right now, Midtown Plaza is being gutted for demolition. I didn´t think that it would happen so quickly, but it is. I´m just glad I don´t have to see a huge mistake in the making. Old Irondequoit Mall still sits vacant awaiting another redevelopment project.
hondolespaul 2 years ago
That mall looks surprisingly modern! The only things different are the cars, products and the way people dress. I still seem some racists cannot get out of THAT era either...
n0gar 2 years ago
Rochester is seriously the most depressing city I've ever seen. During college, I was a victim of a drive-by shooting and several of my friends were mugged at gun or knife point. Someone should do this country a favor and burn this city to the ground and start fresh.
hornplayer100 2 years ago
KODAK
DA4LE 2 years ago
wow.........that's pretty much all I can say rifght now but it don't look anything like that now! HAHAHAH
Aloha877 2 years ago
This was all before the nigs and pr's ruined it all...
vargas37 2 years ago
They used to call them the kooks in 1964. Look up Midtown Plaza Funfair on Google.
hondolespaul 2 years ago
Yep, you are SO RIGHT! I wish I was around for those "good old days" I keep hearing about!
retrojoet 2 years ago
Damn, I thought you people in WAAAY upstate NY were different from the ethnics in the city.
n0gar 2 years ago
Whose from WAAAY upstate NY? You're surrounded by MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of us in ALL parts of the country - 99.9% just smile at you and PRETEND to be "liberal".
retrojoet 2 years ago
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uniekeda1ne 2 years ago
These are great! Thanks
saphopoem 2 years ago
In four years when this clock is moved (again), I do not expect it to be in full working order. Optimation threw her back together. Restoration? More like repairs and a paint job. Don´t get me wrong, I really enjoyed seeing and hearing our Clock of Nations!
hondolespaul 3 years ago
I went to go see our Clock of Nations on Saturday. While I was at the Greater Rochester International Airport, I spotted several restoration flaws. Israel´s puppet station shakes for at least 30 seconds after its door closes. In Canada´s puppet station, the horse no longer gallops. There was one point where it did not move at all. Scotland´s puppet station is partly exposed near where the bottom covering screws on. It is like they did not care about how each one went on. Continued...
hondolespaul 3 years ago
remember when they had a wegmans on the first floor....good times.
goonies31 3 years ago
Rochester: City of Quality. what a joke.
the clock now doesn't look or sound like that anymore. i see the clock just about every other day now and it is completely different. i kind of like it how it was before.
wow this video was really sad.
rsanimorphs 3 years ago
the clock at the airport now .....man rochester looked really diffrent back then
EdHardyKid15 3 years ago
I am disappointed that the newly restored clock does not look like it did in 1962. For $80,000 I could have done a better job.
hondolespaul 3 years ago 2
I remember having my 6th grade choir go and ding in front of the clock for Christmas. That was a great time.
draguncorr 3 years ago
You know, I believe I have a picture of that choir.
hondolespaul 3 years ago
I remember the monorail ! My uncle had his wed reception @ Sibley's in 86.
vargas37 3 years ago
I was almost too late to see the plaza for the last time - and I wouldn't have, if I didn't go to the one-day charity auction which cleared out most of the remaining furniture and fixtures remaining in the place.
Kinda sad - seeing the whole place empty and devoid of people. I almost wish I had made my last visit when it was still open.
swborderer 3 years ago
Not a lot of people showed up to see Midtown Plaza on its closing day. Mayor Bob Duffy confused everybody when they had that tribute to Midtown in December of last year. This is also why nobody from City Hall even bothered to show up as well. They sure showed up for the auction!
hondolespaul 3 years ago
My memories of Midtown and the Clock of Nations date back to 1963. I loved the mall and was always fascinated by the clock. I left the area in the early 80s so I was not aware of the downfall of Midtown. How sad as it was quite a shopping hub in those days. I was glad to see that the clock has been restored and is now at the airport before being permanently installed at Strong.
gmacv1957 3 years ago
You will also be glad to find out that you cannot see our Clock of Nations without a boarding pass! I was at the airport today and a security guard told me so. According to Monroe County, we can only see this timepiece during the holiday season. Maggie Brooks´ little rule will backfire soon.
hondolespaul 3 years ago
I also visited Midtown Plaza for the last time yesterday. I took a lot of pictures and shot some more video clips for my documentary. I also met some nice people and will miss seeing familiar faces. Matt, our Clock of Nations left Midtown in April and was restored. You can see it at the Greater Rochester International Airport soon, but I am not sure when.
hondolespaul 3 years ago
Although I no longer live in Upstate NY, I made a last visit to Midtown Plaza yesterday. Today is the last day it is open to the public. The memories of shopping at McCurdy's (their 7-layer cake was to die for) B.Forman, Casual Corner, All Day Sunday etc. etc. As a kid I always wanted to dive off the stairs into the pool & fountain. So sad to see it go.
darlinks 3 years ago
So glad I grew up in that mall as a child of the 70s. It was magic!
strgyn 3 years ago
wow this sux
the clock is broken and in bad condition
all the stores in midtown plaza are failing
and now midtown plaza will be torn down
mattrockZ13 3 years ago
Originally from Rochester, I am looking for an old working friend I worked at B. Forman's in the 1964-65, one of my friends and I went to watch the clock, we were on the 6PM news, she was black from the Carolina's, my parents were furious, I remained friends with her, I married, moved out of state, my husband was in the Air Force, still haven't returned. Miss Midtown Mall
Rmandcm 3 years ago
Gosh, that place used to be white bread!
Tsubahi 3 years ago
This video nearly brought tears to my eyes. As a born and bred Rochestarian, I remember vividly what Midtown was in the 70's and 80's, and I cannot believe what this city has come to as a whole, let alone what has become of Midtown. About 3 years ago at Christmas time, I went back to Midtown for the first time in ages, and brought my kids with me, hoping to see some of the magic it held for me as a child. I left there, heartbroken and disappointed. Losing Midtown will really be a shame.
mistressbladez 3 years ago
Great Dale----John
johnmus3 3 years ago
I grew up in Rochester during the 90s and I always remembered Midtown plaza being a shopping center and a community center. My mother was very upset when Wegsman left (mainly because they wanted more money...greedy fucks.) My sister and I loved to ride the monorail through Magic mountain. I'll always miss seeing the everyday people of Rochester...the poor...the working... and the children!!!
afrodisiac6489 3 years ago
I also remember going to Wegmans and the IGA that was in Midtown for a short time. I even remember All Day Sunday and Record Theatre. Don't think I was ever in McCurdy's or Forman's. I'll always remember Magic Mountain, the Monorail, and the Clock of Nations. To this day, I still shop and dine at Midtown. It's a shame that some of the tenants will be displaced before the mall closes. You can thank Mayor Duffy for that. He simply doesn't give a crap about his city or its residents.
hondolespaul 3 years ago
Whereabouts did you grow up in Rochester? I grew up on North and Alphonse St. from the mid 80's to the mid 90's. In fact, I just got the sign from Grove's Port Delux last weekend! Don't know if you remember that or not. Anyway, I have a ton of Midtown Plaza related video clips on YouTube if you would like to take a look.
hondolespaul 3 years ago
So your earliest/only memories of Midtown are from when it was already shit. Sad. How long could you have been living out of town at your young age to "miss" the city so much, unless you moved away with your family while you were still a kid?
xreddragonx 3 years ago
Say what?
hondolespaul 3 years ago
I would have given Mayor Duffy $16,000.00 cash for the Clock of Nations. Why should it go to the airport? Those suburbanites don't even deserve a piece of asbestos from the floor tile! It should stay in Rochester, not the Town of Gates. The Chase Tower or the Sibley Tower would have been nice places to store our fabled timepiece. Why should Strong get the clock? I'd rather see it in the museum. Where exactly is the Monorail going? Please keep me informed.
hondolespaul 3 years ago
I was there for Midtown Plaza's very last birthday. The funny thing is that hardly anybody gave a crap. It's a good thing I didn't make a public spectacle out of the occasion. I'm disappointed in the suburbanites who forgot about Midtown and allowed it to die a horrible death. Like Greece Ridge is any better, ha! Security is everywhere during the weekend now because Wilmot is afraid of it becoming another Irondequoit Mall! Scott Congel's Medley Centre is deader than Midtown by a long shot!
hondolespaul 3 years ago
It has been announced that the clock of nations will be going to the Rochester airport until 2012 and then it will be donated to the childrens hospital to be put in an atrium that is yet to be built. I remember going to see that when I was younger and thought it was pretty cool. I'm glad it's staying local.
skippydmb 3 years ago
cont'd from below...
Does anyone even care or have they given up and said lets just focus on the suburbs? And they wonder why nobody stays there after graduation...College grads want to live in the city and enjoy their 20's not commute a half hour from the suburbs each day.
jno727 3 years ago
The real problem with midtown is a) it is surrounded by poverty b) people work downtown but live in the suburbs. Until those obstacles are addressed, a mall was going to have no chance. Im curious to see if the idea to turn midtown into an office park surrounded by a pretty walking area will ever come true. Its such a shame how run down downtown rochester has become.
jno727 3 years ago
PO2716, Midtown Plaza does not seem to be as bad as it used to be. I have not had a drug addict ask me for cash in a few years. The A&P you're referring to was in Pittsford Plaza in 1963. I wish Governor Paterson and Mayor Duffy would reconsider the Midtown demolition. David Paterson is a very intelligent man but he seems to be following in Eliot the pimp's footsteps. Word on the street is that an antique dealer purchased the Clock of Nations. Is this true?
hondolespaul 3 years ago
Keep in mind this type of film was/is sponsored by the business community to increase profit. Thus it makes properous business the ultimate sign of quality of life and happiness. Pure propaganda of course.
dawnnaYT 4 years ago
Mall were so differnent back then
sofiezombie 4 years ago
I was born and raised in Rochester (don't live there any longer) and my heart breaks watching this. The mall is exactly my age and I remember going there as a child with my grandmother. So vibrant, full of life and promise. That was the place to be. Watched this video and thought hard of the promise at the time, the hope for the future. I pray for the best to downtown Rochester. It was once a bustling, exciting place. Haven't been there in a long time, sadly. Thanks for posting.
clockworktim 4 years ago
Why was my other comment removed? Some of my relatives did in fact work on Midtown Plaza while it was being built. That's the main reason why I've shot more footage of this landmark than anybody on YouTube. Seriously, you board trolls need to find another day job. Why censor me? What's the point? Before you click spam again, grow some balls and meet me in person! I'll be at Midtown this weekend.
hondolespaul 4 years ago
Why was my comment removed? Do people not want to hear that our Monorail is still up at Midtown Plaza in February? Check out my channel, I'm not lying. Also, the mall does look run down. That my friends is a fact. Don't get me wrong, I love Midtown and I'd hate to see it get demolished but poor maintenance has led to the mall looking like father time wreaked havoc. Of course, I don't expect to look much better when I am 45 going on 46.
hondolespaul 4 years ago
It's really odd, I was at Midtown Plaza every weekend during the holiday season and the entire mall looked beautiful. I went there yesterday with my family and Midtown looks like father time took a serious beating to it. Not to mention, our Monorail is still up! I have an idea, the owners of Midtown should run it until the mall closes. This time, us adults should get an opportunity to have one last ride and to hell with the consequences!
hondolespaul 4 years ago
whose the guy and the lady?
abenjam2 4 years ago
Fascinating. But I can't help but think this is the most depressing video I've ever seen on YouTube.
Rochester: I hardly knew ye.
gcarraig 4 years ago
Thanks for posting. Quality work!
devlinger 4 years ago
Too bad niggers have to fuck everything up...
grunt5362 4 years ago
also true
Jonathanyoungman7777 4 years ago
nuff said!
PantherAleCo 3 years ago
Yes! And Rochester will sink back into swamp mud and be forgotten forever!
YAY!!!XD
Tsubahi 3 years ago
Some of my relatives actually worked on Midtown Plaza. This will be the year it supposedly comes down. I wonder if the City of Rochester is going to go through with the demolition? I have a feeling that when and if Midtown closes, it will end up like our Fast Ferry, abandoned and Mayor Duffy will be struggling to find a buyer.
hondolespaul 4 years ago
My dad supervised the construction of Midtown. He passed away in Sept. As a little girl, I was in the building when it was just steel beams. I'm glad he never found out it was being taken down. I grew up in Brighton and my mom didn't drive. We did all our shopping downtown. Bus service was good and we went everywhere in the city. Midtown was a happening place in the 60s. The city planners should read some of the very positive suggestions and comments made on this site.
northsouthgal 4 years ago
Delightful. I remember well this construction. That it would last only 40 years is sad. No matter how far away we have moved, there's still something about Rochester.
concordjunction 4 years ago 2
Another crazy idea would be to convince the tenants in Medley Centre to move their stores to Midtown. If you've been to Medley (formerly Irondequoit Mall), you already know that it is ten times deader than Midtown Plaza. Heck, the Food Court is 100% vacant! The only spot in the mall that gets any kind of traffic is the Medley Kids play area! Even that could be moved to Midtown Plaza. Let's get the people back to Downtown Rochester!
hondolespaul 4 years ago
Here are my ideas for saving Midtown Plaza. Put an Aldi's where Wegmans used to be, put a Target store where McCurdy's once was, fill the other vacant storefronts with stores that are beneficial for any shopping mall to survive, and put a Rochester Police Dept. Net Station in Midtown. Another idea would be to have live events at the mall every weekend. It's happening now but only because this is the holiday season and Midtown could very well be demolished next year.
hondolespaul 4 years ago
I live in Salem OR now and this post brought me down memory lane. I worked downtown most of the 45 years that I lived there but its a shame that the city closed up at 5pm. I work in downtown Salem now and it has a vibrant downtown because there are places to shop,to eat or hear a band after 5pm. No urban sprawl here and better land management. Any city should take a look and how we do it in Oregon!
particlebored 4 years ago
I have watched this video at least a dozen times and I even created my own Midtown Plaza tribute video that is on YouTube. It is a shame that Midtown will be demolished. I would love to see it revitalized. As a little boy, I remember riding the Monorail and going up Magic Mountain to see Santa. I am shocked that the owners of Midtown didn't set up Magic Mountain before Midtown Family Day on December 1st.
hondolespaul 4 years ago
Wow. Brings back memories. It's really a shame. Now it's even getting to the point where you can't go to a suburban mall for fear of the gangs and thugs that hang out there. I still love Rochester though. Can't beat it.
jomartino 4 years ago
im not rascist but did anyone notice no black ppl in this video?what a difference from today....
cronos14616 4 years ago
im goin there tonight for the last time, before its knocked down.
i come from a long line of ironworkers so my granfather probobly helped build the original mall, ill probobly end up being involved in building what wil take its place- the new paytec building- BLECH!! stupid paytec. bring back the mall!!! i miss xmas time there! :( nice film find though!
MirageAGS 4 years ago
Well, Rochester is still a "City of Quality" in my book. This is really cool, but depressing. To think its gonna be turned into another telecom so sad.
As for Rochester being dangerous, the majority of the crimes happen in just a few neighborhoods. Stay out of them and its a great place.
Luigispice 4 years ago
Rochester in the 60-70s was a good place to grow up. i made my escape, but it wasn't crime or the economy, it was watching my cars rust away. so i moved to phoenix. now i can take my family downtown at night and be fairly safe. fairly with 4+ mil ppl means a ccw and .40 cal.
bcdushman 4 years ago
Rochester's murder rate has hit 168 so far. When wll we stop the killing??!!!
InspectorFaggot 4 years ago
What a reminder of the happiness I found as a child being in downtown Rochester and the excitement of the monorail,seeing Santa, the huge Christmas tree, going to the stores and restaurants in Midtown! I'm so sad to hear that this piece of history will be turned to rubble! Why can't we bring life back to Midtown Plaza and downtown Rochester? If other cities can draw people to their downtowns, why can't we do something that will work?
RochLeroyWhenChili 4 years ago
The murder rate in Rochester, NY this year is NOT 62!!!! It is almost 20 less.....although 1 is too many to begin with.....
funnybs2004 4 years ago
62 murders so far in 2007 for such a small city thats a lot. In 1963 there was 4 murders and a lot more people. Mostly white folks.
lou737 4 years ago
Why is everyone "dead" wrong about the murder rate in Rochester. So far as of 10/11/2007 there have been approximately 44 potential homicides.
This exaggeration needs to stop. Although in my opinion 1 murder is too much.
Rochester is NOT a small city....it has a metro region of 1 million people. The municipality is small though...only 37 square miles.
funnybs2004 4 years ago
Midtown is a ghost town of what it was, not dangerous at all though. Not like Gang activity at Greece Ridge. I dont know about Irondequoit
GhostKat 4 years ago
I work across the street from Midtown. I moved to ROC from South FL a year ago. I live just east of Downtown on East Ave. I've found that the people of ROC are REALLY closed minded. That has contributed to Roc's demise. Everyone is afraid to go downtown. There's a lot of quiet racism behind it. Downtown is not dangerous. It has lots of blacks and latinos and for some reason the whites see that as dangerous. It's really a shame because the city has so much potential.
AppleJuce77 4 years ago
are you on drugs?62 murders so far...as of 10/7/07...been in Rochester all my life -4 yrs in the Coast Guard...Downtown blows..It's not white people killing each other.You don't know Rochester...Rochester was a great city...My Grandmother use to live in Jefferson Ave back in the early 60's..
coasttoast 4 years ago 2
Why is everyone "dead" wrong about the murder rate in Rochester. So far as of 10/11/2007 there have been approximately 44 potential homicides.
This exaggeration needs to stop. Although in my opinion 1 murder is too much.
funnybs2004 4 years ago
Please, let's give the racism card a rest. How about the fact that Kodak going under, Bausch & Lomb and Xerox both severely cutting down their presence in Rochester. I've lived in the actual city of Rochester for 20 years and you can't tell me that closed-mindedness is the downfall of Rochester. Economy is the villain here.
Yojimbo8407 4 years ago
I work in downtown Rochester at the present time right across from Midtown. Yes there is a mix of people there, but we do not see violence in Midtown. It is well patrolled and safe. I have been downtown many times for Hockey and other events and never felt threatened in downtown Rochester. So all you sissies just go hide under your bed and listen to someone else tell you lies about downtown Rochester.
mrdorn73 4 years ago
Midtown and Irondequoit will never be able to survive the feeling of danger that is there. It's all right to say racism keeps us white folks away, but I've seen gang confrontations, fights, threatening behavior in both places, and, well, it takes very few of these to keep folks away. Even if these disruptions were caused by middle aged Presbyterians, us folks with money, cars and choices would scamper off.
spapr 4 years ago 2
Aw, That was Great! I was just at the mall Yesterday, cutting through to an office in the old Sibley building, and of course, stopping at Peebles. I stopped for a bagel lunch, watched someone looking at the clock, and wanted to go over and talk of old times, but chickened out.
spapr 4 years ago
I love your Malls of America website!
LadyOfMaine 4 years ago
downtown rochester has never been a save place to be night or day from the 60's till now.ask my older brother who's 55
chriswelch07 5 years ago
so sad
schmina99 5 years ago
what a shame..ive watched this plaza go from "the place" to go shopping to a pit of bums, panhandlers, and scumbags....no one wants to go downtown anymore....
schmina99 5 years ago
wow now I know where all these weird parodies come from
(Im only 14 years old and from rochester)
PlanB09 5 years ago
I hope midtown can be re-worked just like Irondeqouit Mall has been.
mbouw21 5 years ago
That "2000 car parking garage" line didn't mention the hassle it was to get down there due to bumber to bumber conditions at the busy hours, the gas fumes, the oily, depressing concrete levels, and the ultrasonic car detectors that drove you crazy if you were young enough to have ears sensitive enough to hear them. But Sibley's cheese bread made it all worthwhile.
zipcode144 5 years ago
I think the Sibley's cheese bread you refer to was actually Salt Rising Bread. We used to call it Stink Bread. You can find sources by googling "Where can I buy Salt Rising Bread." I got some, and it was just like I rememembered from Sibley's.
NBachers 5 years ago
ah, that was fun :) going to Midtown was always a big deal when I was a kid - the clock, the monorail at Christmas, orange crullers at Sibley's ;) then Always on Sunday came in at it was never the same. It sure was lily-white back then!
swede42 5 years ago
I hate to say it but you notice what kind of people were in the video???you go downtown at night now you better bring you 357 mag!!!!even the daylight downtown sucks.
coasttoast 5 years ago
That simply isnt true. Downtown is safe, the neighborhoods north and west aren't. Thats the same reason Irondeqouit Mall nearly emptied is because of exaggerated problems and a hint of racism.
mbouw21 5 years ago
Is it racism if 95% of the people that go to/live in these places are black?
ajg2425 5 years ago
Yes. There are other more relevant attributes that people in these areas have in common - economic issues, lack of opportunity... To imply that violence is some how related to skin color *is* racist.
I ate lunch in the food court at Midtown twice a week for two years and never had any sort of problem - I've never even witnessed any violence there.
monoejectTV 3 years ago
I also ate lunch in the food court at Midtown Plaza and never encountered any violent issues.
hondolespaul 3 years ago
Nothing like a malted at Sibleys and a ride on the Christmas monorail when visiting Santa! Rochester is a great town.
BugOutBabe 5 years ago
I've got the entire DVD of this video. It's about 20+ minutes long. GREAT video. It was put out (sponsored?) by RG&E.
xlhig 5 years ago
I grew up in Irondequoit (my parents still live there)...we'd always go downtown at Christmastime to ride the monorail and the Christmas train (which I think was on the 2nd floor of Sibleys...anyone else remember that?)
I'd like to see the whole video of Rochester from a 1963 perspective - any chance that can be posted here?
thanks for this glimpse of the 'good ol' days'!
zebweber 5 years ago
Wow, Pittsford was considered "the wide open spaces" back then!
thoughtsofthinking 5 years ago
To bad there really isn't anything in Midtown anymore. It is as baren as the Irondequoit Mall. Now that Kodak is going downhill, so is Rochester.
SpaceMonkey211 5 years ago
so why is kodak going downhill now? is xerox and our other famous companies still staying?
abenjam2 4 years ago
its like this, kodak was started in rochester. it did great, up untill fuji film came out. chinese people will work for next to nothing, now the chinese dont sell kodak in there country, they just exploit ours. it got so bad kodak had to sell off,now a lot of good people are out of jobs, so the citys going to hell.
Jonathanyoungman7777 4 years ago
so what area in midtown mcurdys and formans used to be? was mccurdys 1st floor? its been so long since i have been in midtown before it went downhill.
abenjam2 4 years ago
Does the clock even work anymore. I go through there everyday. It took a turn for the worst after McCurdy's left. oh well.
mikannormsgirl 5 years ago
Too bad it's turned into "Thugtown".
Daneane71 5 years ago
That was touching. thanks. My dad ran Midtown until the from 63 mid 90's-- it made me smile to see it again like that.... I do miss Smugtown!
Chiareality 5 years ago
That brought me back memories of my visit to the Midtown Mall when coming in downtown from Irondequoit.
golsalax 5 years ago
We lived in Rochester in 1963 and I worked close to Midtown.
3xlady 5 years ago
Where did all the quality people go?
Jamminjim22 5 years ago
This video makes an interesting and remarkable contrast to the documentary film "Summer of '64," which depicts the levels of poverty and joblessness that existed for the people you can't see in this film.
The message of "quality" people, "quality" jobs and "quality" incomes is clear. No wonder this city (that I have grown to love) was called Smugtown!
gnivecki 5 years ago
I'm not sure this is from '63. I worked there recently, and it looks the same now :) Great video! Thanks RG&E!! I think that Genesee fever has been eradicated too...
brendanc44 5 years ago
soooo many white people in midtown??!
griffen795 5 years ago
I grew up in Rochester (albeit over 20 years after this) and this is so cool! Too bad Midtown Plaza is such a mess now. :(
Lucyfire24 5 years ago
Former Dansvillian here! This is excellent!!!
Xemxi 5 years ago