Corn Hill
OverviewOverview
Just outside of the Inner Loop sits Rochester’s oldest residential neighborhood — Corn Hill. Nestled along the Genesee River, Corn Hill often feels more like a quaint European town than a neighborhood in western New York.
Most of the hustle and bustle of this quiet neighborhood occurs at Corn Hill Landing — a combination of shops, restaurants and luxury apartments. Offering a variety of dining options and breathtaking views of the Genesee River, it’s no surprise that Corn Hill Landing has helped breathe new life into Rochester’s oldest neighborhood.
Home to the annual Corn Hill Arts Festival, the neighborhood is a well-known part of Rochester’s framework. It’s a great place to visit for a nice stroll along the historic streets or a relaxing escape along the banks of the river.
Eat & Drink
The arrival of Corn Hill Landing also brought a number of dining choices to Corn Hill. While most of the eateries in the neighborhood are excellent, here are a few that you absolutely must visit.
Corn Hill Creamery
For a real treat, head over to Corn Hill Creamery. This locally owned ice cream shop serves up homemade ice cream as well as coffee, baked goods and more. Using Pittsford Farms Dairy products, the Creamery is always trying out new flavors and combinations such as Guava Sorbet or Coconut Almond Joy. Take it from us (we’re frequent visitors), you won’t find ice cream like this anywhere else in the city!
290 Exchange Blvd.
454-5110
Virtu
Check out one of Rochester’s newest “hot” spots — Virtu. Opened in early 2007, this trendy restaurant and lounge offers unique dishes and tasty cocktails. Impress your date (or your parents) with upscale dining in a contemporary atmosphere. In the summer months, enjoy your Grape Martini on the deck, overlooking the banks of the Genesee River.
284 Exchange Blvd.
454-6050
Rich Port
Looking for something a little different? Try out Rich Port, a Hispanic bakery located in Corn Hill Landing (Rich Port also has another location at the Public Market). Indulge in some Spanish pastries, enjoy a hot Cuban sandwich or wash it all down with some gourmet coffee.
298 Exchange Blvd.
232-2140
Nathaniel’s Pub
For all you sports enthusiasts, Nathaniel’s Pub might be a good fit. Located on Exchange Boulevard, just across from the Landing, Nathaniel’s offers a relaxed atmosphere for taking in whatever game happens to be on. And yes, it is named after good ole Nathaniel Rochester.
291 Exchange Blvd.
232-8470
Shop & Spend
Do & See
Corn Hill is a great neighborhood to explore by foot — small enough to not be overwhelming but still overflowing with history and culture.
Corn Hill Festival
Every July Corn Hill is transformed into a destination for more than 300,000 visitors from all over. With more than 500 vendors, the Corn Hill Arts Festival is definitely one of the bigger festivals in Rochester. Sunshine Artist Magazine has even named the festival among the top 200 in the country. Art isn’t all the festival has to offer though — enjoy the acrobatic clowns, a multitude of bands (ranging from jazz and bluegrass to rock or even classical) and, of course, the food (who doesn’t love festival food?). So, if you’re lucky enough to be in Rochester during the summer, mark this festival on your calendar.
Corn Hill Gazebo
Standing in the center of Lunsford Park (also known as Plymouth Circle Park), the Corn Hill Gazebo has become an icon of the neighborhood. Though it is now an identifying landmark of the neighborhood, the gazebo originally stood next to St. Joseph’s Church in downtown Rochester for nearly a century. In 1979 it was moved to Lunsford Park, which is named for Dr. Charles Lunsford, one of the first African American physicians in Rochester. Now owned and restored by the Corn Hill Neighborhood Association, the gazebo provides visitors and residents a place of historic value and a leisurely stroll.
F. Ritter Shumway Arena
Imagine skating atop the former grounds of Rochester’s founder. At the F. Ritter Shumway Arena you can do just that! Serving as home to the Skating Institute of Rochester (SIR), the arena stands where Nathaniel Rochester’s home once was. Today, many local hockey clubs call the arena home, including the St. John Fisher men’s hockey club. SIR offers summer and winter hockey leagues and camps as well as public skating (September-May only) and adult teams.
Fox Sisters Obelisk
Located at the intersection of Plymouth Avenue and I-490, the Fox Sisters Obelisk stands as a monument to the Spiritualist movement. Margaret and Katie Fox, who grew up in nearby Hydesville, claimed they were able to communicate with dead people through “rappings” on their walls. In the mid-1880s, the sisters demonstrated their powers in front of a large audience here in Rochester. The show drew speculation and even trials to test their “powers.” The obelisk now stands as a monument to their contributions to Spiritualism.
Live & Rent
With its historic houses and the occasional mansion, Corn Hill offers a variety of housing options. In fact, many of the neighborhood’s older homes have been converted into apartments to serve the renter population. Residents run the gamut from young professionals to retirees.
Corn Hill Landing offers upscale living — their variety of lofts overlooking the Genesee River has proven very popular.
For the average college student, however, the homes across the way (in the actual neighborhood of Corn Hill) are likely more affordable. Though not as popular with the college crowd as say Park Avenue, Corn Hill does have a lot to offer. Students from the University of Rochester have found Corn Hill’s proximity to campus — just a hop, skip and jump down the Genesee — a perfect reason to live in the neighborhood, favoring areas such as Glasgow Street and Riverferry Way.
History
While the Corn Hill of today offers a quiet, laidback atmosphere, it once was host to a vibrant entertainment district. Clarissa Street was once referred to as “Rochester’s Broadway” because of its deep Jazz history. Jazz and blues greats frequented the Pythodd Club, and in later years the Clarissa Room remained one of the few places for live jazz music in the area. The Pythodd Club has since burned down and the Clarissa Room is currently closed, but their legacy remains part of Corn Hill’s history.
As for the Corn Hill name, no one knows the exact history, but a number of varied explanations try to bring light to the topic. Some say the neighborhood was named after the corn grown by Native Americans and early Rochester settlers, which was visible while traveling down the Genesee River. A Cornhill located in London may have even been the source of the neighborhood’s name. The neighborhood itself wasn’t even referred to as “Corn Hill” until the late 1960s, and was considered a part of the Third Ward neighborhood before that. The Corn Hill Arts Festival was the first modern usage of the Corn Hill name, and the neighborhood eventually followed.
