Aerial view of Monroe Village. Photo by _yoshi_ History Sections Monroe Village (City) Upper Monroe (City) Brighton Pittsford Other Notes Links Monroe Avenue is a long vibrant commercial street. It runs southeast from downtown at Chestnut Street, continues through suburban Brighton, strip malls and plazas, and then enters Pittsford. In Rochester proper, it is parallel to Park Avenue.
The entire length is served by the RTS Route 7 bus line. Monroe Avenue is designated as NY State Route 31 and together with East Avenue/State Route 96, forms one of the two historic roadways between Pittsford and the original settlement at Rochesterville, now downtown Rochester. Like the county it traverses, the Avenue was named for U.S. President James Monroe.
Some view Monroe Ave as the spirit and soul of Rochester. As fares Monroe Ave, so fares Rochester! History Monroe Avenue, also known as NYS Route 31, is one of Rochester's principal commercial corridors and the main artery linking downtown Rochester with the suburban village of Pittsford to the east. Unlike East Avenue, which developed as a residential avenue for Rochester's wealthy, Monroe Avenue had mainly a commercial and mixed-use character throughout its history.
The roughly one-mile section of Monroe Avenue between downtown Rochester and the Erie Canal crossing developed over the course of the nineteenth century with two- to four-story masonry commercial and institutional buildings along the avenue and smaller scale residential development along the nearby side streets.1 Monroe Avenue's development as a commercial corridor mirrors the establishment and expansion of public transportation, first with horse-drawn streetcars as far as Alexander Street, then extended to Goodman. With electrification of the streetcars in the 1890s, the line was extended to the Erie Canal (present I-490 bridge) and finally to Highland Avenue.
In the early 1940s, the streetcars were replaced with the #7 Bus, although the Rochester Subway continued to stop at the Monroe Avenue Station until its demise in 1956. Sections Monroe Village (City) (2012) When mentioning "Monroe Ave," most people are actually referring to the commercial strip between Interstate 490 and City Center officially called Monroe Village (see picture above). One of the most pedestrian-friendly and hip sections in Rochester, here Monroe Ave is packed with bars, restaurants, and shops.
Here you might even mistake Rochester for a big city. Bike lanes were added in 2013 As with all big cities, parts of Monroe Village have some urban grit. One of the neighborhood's most recognizable landmarks is the historic 1928 Monroe Theatre. Until the summer of 2008, this housed the porn emporium Show World and was covered in lime green, orange, and black paint.
In September and October 2008 the rear portion of the old theater was demolished and the facade was cleaned and repaired in preparation for conversion to retail space. Important intersections are Alexander Street, Meigs Street, South Goodman, and Oxford Street.
Located here you will find: 149 : Stem Plants 155 : Good Life Collective 158 : Sherwin-Williams 165 : Rocco 171 : Xquisite Boutique 179 : Christian Science Reading Room 181 : Rella 182 : Have Hope Tattoo 184 : Pastrymancer 201 : Arian's Mediterranean Kebab & Grill 205 : Lil Smoke Shop 213 : Whitmore's Barber Shop 219 : The Bug Jar 226-228: Medusas 230 : Park Ave Paninoteca 250 : Parlays Inn 259 : Monroe Square - See page for list. 280 : Nu-Look Collision 288 : Natural Oasis Market & Cafe 289 : Bill & Bob's Twelve Step House 295 : Gentle Dental of Rochester 300 : Dunkin' Donuts 315 : Rochester Fire Department Engine 1 360 : Remedy Staffing 420 : McDonald's 436 : 7-Eleven 439 : Before Your Quiet Eye 439 : CLEAR Rochester 439 : Acadia Canna & Kratom 441 : The Crumpet Lady 458 : Bright Bubble Laundromat 459 : New York Stylee 460 : Nick's Super Store 469 : Lilac Coin Laundry 470 :
O'Callaghan's Pub 484 : VIP Hair Studio 487 : Mark's Texas Hots 492 : South Wedge Hots & Subs 494 : Continental Martial Arts Supplies 495 : Red Cup Bar 499 : Shish Kebab Turkish Cuisine 510 : BBQ Chicken 510 : Yager's Pub 515 : Little Caesars Pizza 518 : Jamaican Spice 519 : Master Falafel 521 : Aguilera's Authentic Mexican Food 522 : Avenue Pub 527 : Advance Auto Parts 529 : Dollar General 531 : Pet Supplies Plus 548 : Bruegger's 560 : Chase 582 : Enright's Thirst Parlor 584 : Enright's Liquor Store 600 : Han Noodle Bar 606 : Fausette Printers 610 : Art Museum of Rochester 619 : Mark's Pizzeria 630 : Turcott's Taproom 631 : Lit City Smoke Shop 633 : Porridge Pot 635 : Steadfast Tattoo 636 : JD Oxfords 642 : Neno's - Dine in 644 : Exscape Smoke Shop 646 : Aladdin's Natural Eatery 654 : Poster Art 655 : Halal Spot 658 : Blinking Pretty 662 : Aaron's Alley Naughty & Nice 668 : Archimage
669 : Subway 673 : MetroPCS 676 : Dandeville Barber and Beauty 686 : Plum House 687 : MiBa Rice Bar 691 : Dogtown 701 : Hydra Coffeehouse 713 : Genesee Center for the Arts and Education (Community Darkroom) Modern Nature Bodyworks Molly's Yoga Corner 719 : eLab Smokers Boutique 721 : Oxford Trading 727 : The Laundry Room 730 : Monroe Village Farmers' Market (seasonal) 739 : Rick's Recycled Books 741 : SEA Restaurant 746 : Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant 746B : The Malt & Market 766 : Create A Pizza 772 : Archivist Books 777 : Temstad Service Station 795 : Button Lofts 797 : Monroe Family YMCA 809 : Monroe Branch Library The residential neighborhoods bordered by Monroe Avenue on the southwest are Wadsworth Square and Pearl-Meigs-Monroe.
Northeast from Alexander to I-490 is the Park Avenue area. Upper Monroe (City) Continuing towards Brighton, one crosses Interstate 490 and enters the Upper Monroe neighborhood. Upper Monroe is also bounded by Pinnacle Hill, Field Street, and Cobbs Hill Park. This area tends to be more affluent, more residential, and closer in character to Park Avenue.
Culver Road is an important intersection, with Monroe Avenue forming its southern terminus. Highland Avenue forms the border with Brighton.
875 : Bar Bad Ending 891 : Boldo's Armory 905 : Center for Youth 942 : Blue Taro 969 : Bethany Christian Services 980 : Grass Fed 984 : Luci & Dona 985 : Al's Monroe Shoe Services 987 : Lash Royalty 990 : Monroe Food Market 993 : Park Avenue Pets 1104 : Jeremiah's Tavern 1118 : Apple Tattoo 1136 : Monroe Convenience 1161 : Congregation Beth Sholom Cobbs Hill Park Brighton The Brighton section of Monroe Avenue extends from Highland Avenue to Clover Street. It is often considered to be Brighton's Main Street, centered on the Twelve Corners area.
As suburbs grew during the post-war era, Brighton's population exploded from about 17,800 in 1950 to nearly 30,000 by the decade's end. This prompted the construction of the region's first strip malls along the Brighton portion of Monroe Avenue, many of which are still in use 2. As Monroe's desirability as a commercial corridor grew, many residential homes were also converted to retail, restaurants, and professional offices. Sidewalks provide walkability for the residential side streets.
The area is known for its very high Jewish population, the largest in the state outside New York City. Intersections are Elmwood Avenue, South Winton Road, Westfall Road, and I-590. The first three also lead back into the city. Clover Street forms the border between Brighton and Pittsford.
1454 -1464 : Bel Aire Plaza - See page for list. 1457 : Sofia Shoe Repair 1476 : Lucky Folk 1475 : Forefront Audio 1482 : Lipman's Kosher Market 1492 : Brighton Token and Coins 1494 : Eli Estate Jewelers 1500 : America's Decor 1515 : Pod Computers 1521 : One Hip Chic Optical Sole by One Hip Chic 1531 : The String House 1541 : Retreat House Massage and Wellness Center 1551 : Twelve Corners Barber Shop 1571 : Second Hand Rose 1577 : Just Browsing 1624 : Top Notch Bestoke Tailors 1627 : M&T Bank 1647 : Jôlie Salon & Day Spa 1655 : Sotherby's International Realty 1660 : Summit Federal Credit Union 1690 : Redd Wood 1697 : TT Nail Spa 1720 : Pinnacle Wine and Liquor 1750 : Chen Garden 1775 : Chase - ATM only 1776 : The Sheffield 1780 : NeedleDrop Records 1786 : NAPA Auto Parts 1790 : Color Me Mine 1795 : Malek's 1796 : Nikki Nails 1800 : Weider's Paint and Pro Hardware 1822 : Pontillo's 1829 :
Speedy's Cleaners 1832 : Twelve Corners Apothecary 1833 : Lakeside Restoration 1840 : Rochester's School of Guitar 1835 - 1881: Brighton Commons - See page for list.
1890 : Twelve Corners Plaza - See page for list. 1950 : Quicklee's 1984 : Monroe Nails 2000 : Citizens Bank 2030 : Fred Astaire Dance Studio 2075 : Canandaigua National Bank & Trust 2100 : CVS 2179 : Cooks' World 2180 : Elegant Brows Threading & Spa 2180 : Henry's Salon 2198 : Willow Salon 2210 : Eastside Medical Supply 2229 : Stache Grooming Lounge 2240 : Brighton Nail & Spa 2240 : Relax & Wax 2241 : Bees Salon 2261: Monroe MedSpa 2290 : Vasile & Elena's Custom Tailoring 2294 : R's Market 2298 : Empy Nails 2314 : Bead Breakout Stefan Otter Fine Art Jewelers 2320 : Blush Beauty Bar 2323 : Hotel on Monroe 2341 : Manzara Cafe 2349 : Howard Hanna 2376 : Spotted Rabbit Studio 2383 : Waterlily Spa and Cosmetics Boutique 2400 : Dino's Tailor Shop 2407 : Sherwin-Williams 2423 : Europa Custom Clothier Nouveau Beauty Aesthetics Glow Sunless Tanning, Inc.
2430 : The Men's Room 2450 : Char Broil Family Restaurant 2472 : Valvoline Instant Oil Change 2541 : AVVINO 2545 : Tom Wahl's 2560 : ESL Federal Credit Union 2600 : Arby's 2717 : City Mattress 2729 : Oakfield Hotel & Suites 2735 : Chipotle Mexican Grill 2740 -2790: Whole Foods Center (under construction-ish) 2775 : Sakura Home Red Sun Spin and Savor 2787 : Dunkin' Donuts 2799 : Cinderella Nails and Spa 2815 : Kumon Whelpley & Paul 2816 : Animal Hospital of Pittsford 2830 : Bank of America 2833 : Umai Sushi 2835 : Country Inns & Suites 2851 : Palazzo Jewelers 2875 : Go Car Wash 2900 : Clover Commons - See page for list. Pittsford The Pittsford section of Monroe Avenue begins east of Clover Street.
Here, the contrast between city and suburbs could not be more stark. Monroe Avenue's opposite end, Monroe Village, is a diverse, pedestrian-oriented urban neighborhood lined with many amenities and small businesses with apartments on the upper floors. Monroe Avenue in Pittsford, on the other hand, is wealthy and car-oriented. Although it has sidewalks, crossing the street on foot is a terrifying experience.
Its exurban character is defined by high-end shopping plazas, mostly notably Pittsford Plaza, that contain big-box chain stores such as Michaels, Trader Joe's, and TJ Maxx. The Pittsford Trail System (Railroad Loop) provides a safe alternative for cyclists. Monroe Avenue finally terminates in Pittsford Village at the intersection with Main Street, where it turns into State Street and then Palmyra Road after it crosses the Erie Canal. If you keep going, it becomes West Main Street in Macedon.
2920 : Clover View Plaza - See page for list. 2949 : Monroe Clover Plaza - See page for list. 3001 : Monroe's Restaurant and Rare 3001 3019 -3025 : Spring House Commons - See page for list. 3030 - 3050 : Oak Hill Commons - See page for list.
3035 : The Bird House 3077 : Monro Muffler 3100 : Cornell's Jewelers 3122 : AT&T Paintbox Kids Activity Center 3180 : Wendy's 3195 : Super Wegmans - Must See The Food Bar at Wegmans 3200 : Petco 3220 : Next Door by Wegmans 3225 : Key Bank 3240 : Pittsford Square - See page for list. 3280 : McDonald's 3300 : Pittsford Place Mall - See page for list. 3330 : Xceed Financial Credit Union 3340 : Home Sense 3340 : Marshalls 3340 : Scott Miller Salon & Spa 3340 : Orangetheory Fitness 3349 : Pittsford Plaza - Huge.
See page for complete list. 3380 : Monroe Hypnosis 3400 : Pittsford Colony Plaza - See page for list. 3420 : KeyBank 3462 : Arts Roc 3750 : CrossFit Rochester 3750 : Agape Black Belt Center 3750 : Pittsford Digital Golf Other Notes The Show on Monroe festival is held annually to celebrate the diversity …