Mount Hope
OverviewOverview
The Mount Hope neighborhood owes a lot to the University of Rochester and Strong Health. Without those two major Rochester companies, the Mount Hope neighborhood may have never existed.
Mount Hope Avenue itself is located just a step away from the University of Rochester, and the neighborhood receives much of its life from the local UR students that frequent its restaurants and shops. From casual eateries to college-oriented bars and restaurants, Mount Hope is a great college area that UR students especially flock to.
The neighborhood is also home to three of Rochester’s largest attractions — Mount Hope Cemetery, Highland Park and Genesee Valley Park. These three natural attractions are perfect for running, walking, hiking or just enjoying a nice Rochester afternoon.
Eat & Drink
Located so close to UR, the Mount Hope neighborhood offers lots of food options — and lots of college discounts!
The Distillery
Food, drink, sports, fun — their Web site says it all. But this is much more than a sports bar. The Distillery not only serves a variety of food, even claiming to have some of the best ribs, steaks and pasta dishes in town, but they also offer daily drink specials and a wide variety of custom-brewed imported and domestic beers. No wonder it has won several Rochester’s Choice awards for the city’s favorite sports bar. Located just down the road from the University of Rochester, The Distillery is a common destination for college students. “They’re our bread and butter,” says restaurant owner Peter Psyllos.
1142 Mt. Hope Ave.
271-4150
Elmwood Inn
Located very close to UR, the Elmwood Inn offers a wide menu selection and approximately 30 beers on tap. This casual sports bar exudes the perfect college atmosphere to chill and watch your favorite team. Pub fare includes unique dishes like Firecracker Calamari, a Seafood “Po Boy” Sandwich and the Elmwood Plate, which claims to be an “improved version” of the local delicacy.
1256 Mt. Hope Ave.
271-5195
I Scream
Tucked in Mount Hope Plaza is a slice — or more appropriately, a scoop — of nostalgia. With retro ice cream advertisements and a working antique cash register, I Scream invokes the feel of ice cream and soda shops from well before we were born. If that isn’t enough to draw you in, maybe the hot fudge and caramel sauce will. Check out the shop’s take on happy hour — ice cream aficionados can buy one sundae and get the second at 50 percent off. And did we mention college discounts? What are you waiting for?
1683 Mt. Hope Ave.
520-8074
Mykonos Express
It’s all Greek to us. Well, at Mykonos Express it really is all Greek. This traditional Greek eatery serves up dishes such as loukaniko, garides and filetakia. Don’t know what those are? Don’t worry, Mykonos Express’s online menu has an A-Z guide of Greek cuisine for those of us who need a little guidance. Like most other restaurants in the area, Mykonos offers daily specials as well as a 10 percent discount for UR and RIT students.
1330 Mt. Hope Ave.
271-5220
Pellegrino’s
For quick service that still has quality behind it, head over to Pellegrino’s. Under the same ownership as The Distillery, Pellegrino’s offers salads, soups, wraps and signature subs. Fast service, decent prices and a wide selection — what more could we ask for?
1120 Mt. Hope Ave.
442-6463
Shop & Spend
Mount Hope might not be the top shopping destination in Rochester, but it does have a lot to offer. Find unique clothing, get your read on or just splurge on yourself … you deserve it!
Second Season Clothing
The oldest consignment shop in Rochester, Second Season Clothing is the place to find unique clothing, shoes, handbags and jewelry. From high fashion labels to no-name items, this shop is a great alternative to the malls and expensive shops.
1555 Mt. Hope Ave.
244-6666
Mark and M.E.
If school is getting a bit too stressful, let the professionals at Mark and M.E. help you out. This three-floor salon and day spa offers hair, nail, skin and tanning services. With a 10 percent student discount, a little pampering is well worth the expense.
1775 Mt. Hope Ave.
473-7360
Empire Comics
Haven’t you heard? Comic books are totally hip again. Thank big-screen blockbusters like Spiderman and Fantastic Four for that. Whether you’re a die-hard comic book fan or just an occasional reader, Empire Comics has something for you. According to shop owner Jim Furferri, all different kinds of customers pass through the door. The selection includes a variety of titles to please boys and girls. Stop by Empire Comics and catch up on your (or your boyfriend’s) favorite caped wonder (it’ll impress him when you get dragged to the next X-men movie!).
1176 Mt. Hope Ave.
442-0371
Do & See
A permanent, ahem, “home” to over 350,000 people, this cemetery is one of Rochester’s most well-known historical landmarks. In fact, the cemetery is actually the nation’s first municipal Victorian cemetery. A walk through the cemetery’s nearly 200 acres of land reveals a breathtaking view of Victorian-era funeral art — mausoleums in the hillsides, winged angels, Egyptian obelisks and much more await.
Susan B. Anthony — Perhaps one of the most famous suffragists, Anthony proposed the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. She was arrested at her Rochester home for voting and died before she was able to see her life’s work adopted in 1920.
Frederick Douglass — An escaped slave and publisher of The North Star, an anti-slavery newspaper published from right here in Rochester. Douglass became a world-renowned leader of the anti-slavery movement.
Nathaniel Rochester — Founder of Rochester.
John Jacob Bausch and Henry Lomb — Founders of Bausch & Lomb.
Frank Gannett — Successful newspaper publisher who founded Gannett Corp., which owns the Democrat & Chronicle and USA Today among many others.
One of Rochester’s oldest parks, Highland Park is perhaps most well known for its lilacs and serves as the site for the annual Lilac Festival. Each May, over 500 varieties of lilacs blossom as nearly half a million visitors flock to the ten-day festival.
Located just south of the University of Rochester, Genesee Valley Park falls at the very edge of the Mount Hope neighborhood. The park has hiking trails, bike paths, playgrounds, ski trails, and softball, soccer and even cricket fields. Overlooking the banks of the Genesee River, visitors can also enjoy canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Like Highland Park, Genesee Valley was also designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. A unique feature to the park is its two golf courses.
Live & Rent
Are you a doctor? How about studying to be a doctor? Maybe you just want to feel safe living around a bunch of doctors? If so, Mount Hope is definitely for you — most of the neighborhood’s residents are somehow tied to Strong Health.
Although UR is not too far away (in fact it’s within walking distance), the amount of college students in this close-knit neighborhood are out numbered by the amount of “doctors in training.”
“I can go for days and days without getting in my car,” says Bob Good, a Mount Hope resident and active member (not to mention, former president) of the Upper Mount Hope Neighborhood Association. The effortless commute to one of Rochester’s largest employers (UR ranks pretty high up there too) is the main draw for people looking to live in this bustling little neighborhood.
History
The roots of the Mount Hope neighborhood lie in the development of the University of Rochester’s River Campus and Strong Memorial Hospital. The area was originally considered part of the town of Brighton, but as UR’s River Campus expanded, the neighborhood was annexed to the city of Rochester in the 1920s.
Many of the houses and businesses surrounding the university and Strong Memorial Hospital took shape in the early 1900s as both institutions began to grow and develop.
The strongest part of Mount Hope’s history lies (literally and figuratively) in Mount Hope Cemetery. A leisurely walk through the cemetery grounds will take you by the tombstones of some of Rochester’s most famous residents. From a famed abolitionist to a strong-minded suffragist, from the father of anthropology to the stepson of notorious bison hunter Buffalo Bill, Mount Hope cemetery is full of stories to educate and entertain visitors.
