Rendering of Mercantile on Main 

Rochester, NY, the third largest city in New York State, was recently named one of the top cities for foodies in the country, and if you are familiar with the ROC food scene this news won’t come as a surprise. And, even after what has been a devastating year for the restaurant and hospitality industry as a whole, there are some bright spots in the Rochester foodie scene.

Rochester’s first food hall will open at the end of 2020, the Mercantile on Main. The food hall will be home to six new dining concepts, including three created by the Greg and Jody Johnson, the owners of The Cub Room in Rochester, and former NYC hospitality and restaurant pros.

  • Mercantile on Main can be found inside the Sibley Building, one of the most exciting historic building transformations in the country. The Sibley Building in downtown Rochester was for many years the home of the Sibley’s Department Store, which was once the largest department store between New York City and Chicago. 

  • Over the past several years, the Sibley Building has been redeveloped and transformed from a shell of its former space to Sibley Square, a brilliant mixed use development, featuring retail, housing and commercial spaces. Completely redesigned from the inside out, Sibley Square is the epicenter of activity and creativity in Rochester’s NEW downtown. 

The Mercantile on Main is not the only new food concept coming to downtown Rochester and Sibley Square. Alongside the Mercantile, Sibley Square will also be opening up The Commissary, the first kitchen incubator space of its size in New York State, outside of New York City.

  • The Commissary is a not-for-profit and a project of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation

  • It will be a 6,500 sq ft space will feature Production Kitchen, Performance Kitchen, and food storage area.  

  • The Commissary anticipates being home to up to 50 startup food entrepreneurs in its first year, ranging from food trucks, caterers, bakers, pre-startup restaurateurs, virtual restaurants, home-based food businesses looking to legalize and grow, and packaged food manufacturers.

  • As a food business incubator, The Commissary will provide food industry specific support services through workshops, on-site staff, a mentorship program, and entrepreneurs in residence.

  • The Commissary is going to make a large impact in our community, and is another sign of the downtown and urban revitalization Rochester is continuing to experience.

These openings come on top of continued development in the urban core, helping this rust belt city come back better than ever. Stay connected with the Mercantile on Main by following along on Facebook and Instagram, and learn more about The Commissary on social media here.