East & Alexander street closures continue on Saturdays

Business owners in Rochester’s East Avenue and Alexander Street area are divided over the impact of street closures and age restrictions, which will continue for several weeks as part of a “Special Event Zone” under the city’s Gun Violence State of Emergency. The closures, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturdays, restrict vehicle access to residents and workers, and only pedestrians aged 21 and up can enter through designated checkpoints.

Some owners, like Paul Hogue of The Daily Refresher, support the initiative, praising the pedestrian-friendly atmosphere and envisioning it as an opportunity for events like night markets. However, others, such as Donald Swartz of Veneto Wood Fired Pizza, report losses, with nearby bars like Aqua Vitae seeing a 50% decline in revenue. While business owners are meeting with city officials to discuss improvements, opinions remain mixed on whether the plan is beneficial.

Source: Rochester First