The East End/Upper East End is anchored at its northern end by the world-renowned Eastman School of Music and the Eastman Theatre, home of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Its rich tapestry of restaurants, coffee cafes, bars and nightlife extends down East Avenue and wraps around to Alexander Street. The Little Theatre, a five-theater movie house, features foreign and independent films and is adjacent to over 100 units of newly built and renovated residences including lofts, apartments and townhomes.

During the warmer months, the streets are closed to vehicles as the area hosts the East End Festivals. They feature live music, exciting cuisine, and thousands of party-goers.

To search for commercial office space, residential rental units, and a wide variety of service and amenities and entertainment options in the neighborhood, check out the
East End/Upper East End entry in the Interactive Map.

History

The East End is named after East Avenue, a grand city boulevard of opulent mansions and enormous beech trees that begins downtown and extends out to the eastern suburbs. Prior to World War II, the area was filled with grand theaters, restaurants, hotels, and upscale shopping. However, the building of the Inner Loop and urban development during the 1950's and '60s resulted in many of these buildings being torn down or converted to office space.

Since the early 1980s the East End has once again become the cultural center of downtown with a revitalization of the remaining buildings and thoughtful new construction. East Avenue, on both sides of what became the Inner Loop, was also once Rochester's "automobile row" with dealerships lining both sides of the street, many with second floor garages accessed by auto elevators. Some of those same spaces are now home to the area's many nightclubs. Once again you can explore galleries, sample a variety of exquisite restaurants, or simply stroll down one of Rochester's classiest downtown streets.

Future

The future of the East End is in motion. Multiple residential developments promise to accelerate the growth of this truly 24/7 downtown neighborhood. These include the adaptive reuse of existing buildings as well as plans for new apartments and townhouses. New galleries such as Rochester Contemporary have moved in, and a major renovation and expansion of the Eastman Theatre is now in progress.

Festivals

Any depiction of life in downtown Rochester would be incomplete without a reference (in this case a hyperlink) to the innumerable festivals enjoyed by our residents. They include: the Rochester International Jazz Festival; the Corn Hill Festival (arts, crafts, and foods spread throughout this historic, riverside neighborhood); the Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival (held annually at the George Eastman House's Dryden Theatre and the downtown Little Theatre); the Image Out/ Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (hosted annually at the Little Theatre); the Clothesline Festival (artists from the region and beyond on the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery); the Park Avenue Merchants Festival (another local favorite that covers Park Avenue from Culver to Alexander); the Lilac Festival (world famous for its hills and dales of lilac bushes, this Festival also boasts top-shelf music and shopping); the Rochester Music Festival (a reflection of the changing music scene, the Music Festival is ever-evolving); and the Cold Rush Winter Celebration. (The Cold Rush highlights the wide range of activities available across four seasons in our region). Want to get an even closer look at what's driving the excitement about downtown living? Join this year's Inside Downtown Tour!