Downtown Rochester is defined by Main Street, State Street, and the major crossroads of those streets. It is the core of one of New York State's most important cities. Rochester's Downtown recaptures the golden era when downtown bloomed as a mecca for daytime workers and shoppers and for an evening's entertainment at vibrant social centers. Rochester's Downtown celebrates the people of this great city as they progress from their early beginnings to create a dynamic business center. This excellent collection of images regenerates the excitement of riding the trolley, of watching a movie at the Palace or the Capitol, of window-shopping at the Duffy-Powers Store, and of tasting frosted malteds at Sibley's or warm doughnuts from the Mayflower Donut Shop or spoonfuls of roasted peanuts from Mr. Peanut Man. The narrative recalls Scrantom's as the place to buy books, Neisner's having the latest 78-rpm records, McCurdy's and Edward's with their special holiday displays, Eddie's Chop House for memorable dinners, and the Century Sweet Shop for after-theater sundaes.

This beautiful book, with its more than 100 superb photographs and perceptive text, makes visible an awareness of the relationship of past to present, of old to new, that will give all readers, wherever they live, new eyes with which to see their own familiar streets. For the people in Rochester and Monroe County, resident or visitor, the book is arranged geographically and is designed as a guide and itinerary, with maps of walking and driving routes for viewing neighborhoods and downtown areas of the city and villages in the county. The focus is never on isolated “notable buildings,” but on their relation to the areas of which they are an integral part. For those whose interest is architectural history there are abundant photographs or beautiful buildings—old as well as new, commercial as well as residential—with the text providing architectural and historical information. This book is sponsored by the Landmark Society of Western New York, with assistance from the New York Council on the Arts.