Experience Rochester’s iconic Midtown Plaza Clock of Nations, now open to the public at Tower280 (Midtown Tower) daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Metered parking is available on Elm Street and around Parcel 5, the former site of Midtown Plaza, with free parking on nights and weekends.
Midtown Plaza in Rochester, New York, holds a special place in the hearts of Rochesterians. It evokes fond memories of a bustling urban center that blended shopping, entertainment, and community gathering spaces. Opened in 1962 as the nation’s first indoor urban shopping mall, it quickly became a central hub for everyday activities and special occasions.
One of the most cherished recollections is of the Clock of Nations, a prominent feature in the plaza’s atrium. This clock showcased rotating displays representing various countries, captivating visitors with hourly performances.
The holiday season at Midtown Plaza is particularly memorable for many. The plaza was adorned with festive decorations, and the indoor monorail, introduced in 1968, offered children a whimsical ride above the concourse, adding to the seasonal magic. Families often visited to experience the elaborate Christmas displays, making it a cherished tradition.
Midtown Plaza was more than a shopping center—a vibrant community hub that shaped Rochester’s social and cultural life before suburban malls took over.
A Brief History of Midtown Plaza
Conception and Growth (1956-1960s)
Midtown Plaza (opened 1962, closed 2008, demolished 2010) is recognized as America’s first indoor urban shopping mall—the first designed as a modern, enclosed retail center rather than an arcade or marketplace. After much research by Emily, a Historical Researcher/Library Assistant for the Rochester Public Library, it was confirmed that Rochester, New York’s 1828 Reynolds Arcade (Rochester’s first commercial building), Providence, Rhode Island’s 1828 Westminster Arcade (classified as an arcade-style shopping space, not a modern mall), and Boston’s 1743 Faneuil Hall are not considered because they were of an era of arcades and marketplaces, predecessors to the mall as we know it today.
Conceived in 1956 by department store owners Gilbert J.C. McCurdy and Maurice F. Forman, the plaza aimed to revitalize downtown retail amidst the rise of suburban shopping centers. McCurdy and Forman were not just department store owners but were instrumental in convincing the city to pioneer urban revitalization efforts through Midtown Plaza. Their contributions go beyond retail and into urban planning.
Midtown Plaza was designed by Austrian-born architect Victor Gruen, who also designed the first enclosed shopping center, Southdale Center, in suburban Minneapolis in 1956. Gruen envisioned Midtown Plaza as a pedestrian-friendly town square, incorporating art, benches, fountains, a 400-seat auditorium, and a sidewalk café to encourage social interaction.
Its innovative design attracted attention from urban planners worldwide, including Walt Disney, who visited the plaza while conceptualizing EPCOT.
This painting, Midtown Plaza 1962–1987 by Edith Lunt Small, was previously on display at the Memorial Art Gallery but is now archived from public view. I also have this poster framed in my home.
The Decline and Closure (1990s-2010)
Initially, Midtown Plaza was hailed as a success, spurring commercial revitalization in downtown Rochester during the 1960s. However, the subsequent decades saw challenges, including cultural shifts and the emergence of suburban malls, leading to a decline in patronage. The closure of anchor stores McCurdy’s and B. Forman Co. in 1994 marked a significant downturn, with the plaza struggling to retain tenants thereafter. Wegmans Food Market closed its Midtown Plaza location in 1995.
In 2000, Midtown Plaza filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was subsequently sold to the city of Rochester. Plans for redevelopment culminated in the plaza’s closure to the public on July 25, 2008, and demolition commenced on September 27, 2010. Notably, the iconic Clock of Nations, a plaza centerpiece, was relocated during this period.
Rochesterians still mourn the loss of Midtown Plaza, once a vibrant symbol of urban life and prosperity for the city and its residents.
The Clock of Nations
The centerpiece of Midtown Plaza was the “Clock of Nations,” created by artist Dale Clark. This clock featured rotating displays representing twelve nationalities—Japan, Scotland, Puerto Rico, Ireland, United States, Nigeria, Israel, Germany, Canada, Italy, Poland, and Thailand—reflecting Rochester’s diverse cultural heritage.
The Clock of Nations was designed by Peter Müller-Munk Associates, an industrial design firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The firm was commissioned to create it for Rochester’s Midtown Plaza’s grand opening.
The clock’s design and the plaza’s multicultural emphasis may have influenced Walt Disney’s vision for EPCOT’s World Showcase, which celebrates international cultures through various pavilions. While direct evidence linking the Clock of Nations to specific elements in EPCOT is limited, Disney’s visit to Midtown Plaza suggests that the plaza’s innovative approach to urban design and cultural representation may have inspired aspects of EPCOT’s development.
At the top of each hour, crowds gathered to watch the Clock of Nations come to life—a ritual that became one of Rochester’s most treasured traditions.
An employee and several visitors reported that a variety of music plays throughout the day.
The poster reads, “As the plazas of Europe, from the days of the Renaissance, have traditionally been enlivened by the village clock, so Midtown Plaza — America’s first downtown ‘Galleria’ — features the ‘Clock of the Nations’ to mark the time of the day with a colorful pageant. The clock of your new town square symbolically depicts twelve nations, representing the world’s primary cultures. On each hour, as all stages open and revolve, the animated scene of the country of the hour is lighted and comes to life, while folk tunes of the land fill the air. Midtown Plaza has recaptured for your enjoyment and your children’s enjoyment the lively and gay atmosphere of the faraway marketplaces of the world.”
Time Spent at the Rochester International Airport
When the Clock of Nations was installed at the airport, it was meant to be temporary. There were discussions about relocating it to Golisano Children’s Hospital or a local museum, but no permanent home was established. When it was moved to storage in 2016, it was in disrepair, and many wondered whether it could be salvaged. Its non-functioning mechanics and deteriorating displays made it difficult to salvage.
Restoring the clock was no small feat. Its mechanics had deteriorated, and whether it could function again was unclear. Many wondered whether it would ever be displayed again. Fortunately, local developer Ken Glazer and Buckingham Properties stepped in, ensuring the clock would be saved, fully restored, and made accessible to the public.
The Restoration of The Clock of Nations
The Clock of Nations, a cherished symbol of Rochester’s Midtown Plaza, has been meticulously restored and reintroduced to the public, thanks to the efforts of Ken Glazer and Buckingham Properties. In 2024, restoration efforts began to return the clock to its former glory. The restoration involved meticulous cosmetic and mechanical repairs to revive its original charm.
The restored Clock of Nations now resides in the publicly accessible lobby of Tower 280 (Midtown Tower), near its original location in downtown Rochester. This project underscores Buckingham Properties’ dedication to preserving and celebrating the city’s rich history.
On March 7, 2025, The Clock of Nations was unveiled to the public at Tower280 for the first time since 2016. I couldn’t wait to see it for myself! Below is a video I put together to help you find the entrance to Tower280:
Many locals recall arranging to “meet me at the clock,” making it a popular rendezvous point and a symbol of the plaza’s vibrant atmosphere. All the crosstown buses stopped at Midtown Plaza. I grew up in West Irondequoit, with friends in Greece and East Irondequoit. We would hop on our town’s bus line to meet at the clock.
“Meet me under the clock” was another popular statement, though it applied to Sibley’s clock, a department store across Main Street.
Tower280—Previously Known as Midtown Tower
Beyond its retail offerings, the developers envisioned Midtown Plaza as a community hub, incorporating art installations, benches, fountains, a 400-seat auditorium, and a sidewalk café to foster social interaction. The complex also featured an 18-story office tower, which housed an upscale hotel and the renowned Top of the Plaza restaurant and nightclub, celebrated for its vibrant jazz scene with performances by artists like Buddy Rich and Dizzy Gillespie.
After Midtown Plaza was demolished, Midtown Tower was left standing and underwent significant redevelopment. It was rebranded as Tower 280, a mixed-use building featuring residential units, office spaces, and retail establishments.
More Midtown Plaza Artifacts
The Midtown Plaza Monorail
The holiday season at Midtown Plaza included several key elements: choirs from local high schools singing Christmas songs during the lunch hour, a visit with Santa on Magic Mountain, and a ride on the monorail.
The Midtown Plaza Monorail was a beloved seasonal attraction in Rochester, New York, operating primarily during the holiday season from its introduction in 1968 until the plaza’s closure. Designed as a children’s ride, the monorail featured two trains with two cars each, accommodating up to 32 passengers. It traveled approximately three miles per hour along a circular route suspended above the mall’s central concourse, providing young riders a unique aerial view of the shopping area.
Luckily, my children, born in 1994 and 2000, could share this piece of my childhood before the plaza was demolished.
After Midtown Plaza closed in 2008, the monorail was dismantled and stored. In 2018, two of the original monorail cars were relocated to the New York Museum of Transportation in Rush, New York, where they are now on display as part of the museum’s exhibits.
Two additional cars, one pink and one green, make an alternating annual appearance at Roc Holiday Village to evoke this nostalgic era of Christmastime downtown.
The Totem Pole
Midtown Plaza featured a 26-foot totem pole, hand-carved in 1977 by Walter Harris and Art Sterrit of the Gitksan Nation in British Columbia, Canada, to commemorate its 15th anniversary. Following the plaza’s closure in 2008, the totem pole was relocated in September 2010 to the Seneca Park Zoo, which now stands at the entrance to the Rocky Coast Exhibit.
The sign reads, “WHERE DID THIS TOTEM POLE COME FROM AND WHY IS IT HERE In 1977, the Midtown Plaza Association wanted to do something very special for the 15th anniversary of the opening of Midtown. They contracted two Native American artists to carve a totem pole with Native and Rochester stories. Walter Harris and Art Sterrit, both of the Gitksan Nation in British Columbia, Canada, came to Rochester to carve this totem pole by hand. For one month, they worked with gouges, handmade knives and chisels. They used a red cedar log from the Northwest Coast and their ideas about their culture and Rochester’s history. In 2008, the totem pole was donated by Midtown Rochester Properties to the County of Monroe to save a special piece of Rochester’s history.”
Videos
Enjoy watching these videos featuring the Clock of Nations.
You can see the monorail track and cars behind the Clock of Nations.
Christmastime at Midtown Plaza
Midtown Plaza Mall
Memories of Midtown: A WXXi documentary
Japan is the featured nation during this hour.
Germany is the featured nation during this hour.
Visiting the Clock of Nations
Experience the iconic Midtown Plaza Clock of Nations, now open to the public at Tower280 (Midtown Tower) daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Metered parking is available on Elm Street and around Parcel 5, the former site of Midtown Plaza, with free parking on nights and weekends. Get Directions on Google Maps
Midtown Plaza was more than just a shopping center; it served as a community hub that significantly influenced Rochester’s social and cultural life before the rise of suburban malls. Its innovative design and multifunctional spaces set a precedent for future urban development projects.
What are your favorite Midtown Plaza memories?
Midtown Plaza was more than just a mall—it was a part of Rochester’s identity. The memories of meeting under the clock, riding the monorail, and holiday shopping at Midtown live on in the hearts of those who experienced them. Do you have a favorite memory of Midtown Plaza? Share your stories in the comments, and keep the memories alive!
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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