Downtown Enterprises Upset Above Jazz Fest Transfer

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Firms in downtown Rochester are reacting immediately after it was declared Thursday that the CGI Rochester Intercontinental Jazz Pageant will acquire spot on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus this year, rather than downtown.

Jim Kaiser is a frequent at Temple Bar and Grill on East Avenue.

“It’s just a helpful surroundings. I arrive listed here a few times a week, and pretty frankly, it’s a wonderful position to wind down following a hard day at perform,” Kaiser reported.

And he likes the bar for the similar rationale he enjoys downtown.

“That’s why I reside downtown. It is because of the fantastic, excellent cultural items that take place in this city,” Kaiser stated. 

So though he understands why, he was continue to a little bit dissatisfied to hear the CGI Rochester Intercontinental Jazz Competition will not likely be held at its typical dwelling downtown this yr. As an alternative, hosted at the Rochester Institute of Engineering.

“I’m involved that it’s not likely to have the same cafe, quick-likely avenue truly feel it’s had in the earlier,” Kaiser reported.

Michael O’Leary owns Temple Bar and Grill and claims the pageant will undoubtedly be skipped.

“It’s a wonderful 10 days. It’s not only a nice boost to the organization through the Jazz Fest, but it provides persons downtown who don’t usually appear downtown,” O’Leary explained.

Bethany York, a barista at Java’s Cafe nearby, agrees.

“Bummed. Actually, really bummed. We really like Jazz Fest, it’s a good time for us. It is nuts, it’s chaotic, but it’s like a bonding expertise for all of us,” York explained.

But from a business standpoint, O’Leary suggests it is not a big blow.

“I never consider any of us genuinely expected the pageant to be taking place this 12 months at all, so none of the firms in the place we’re definitely counting on the pageant this 12 months,” O’Leary said.

Instead, York and O’Leary are just glad the competition just isn’t currently being canceled again. And each are hopeful it will return to downtown in 2022.

“It’s crucial that the gatherings get rescheduled. It is type of the lifeblood of this area,” O’Leary explained.

And Kaiser couldn’t concur far more. Following all…it is dwelling.

“The best Jazz Fest will materialize downtown. This is the most effective location in the entire world to have it,” Kaiser claimed.

The festival will take put July 30 as a result of August 7.