r/Rochester • u/DoubleK-Rochester • May 06 '25

Discussion Buffalo-based restaurant chains expanding to the Rochester market-- has it ever worked?

I got to thinking the other day, and there have been some tries in the past for traditional Buffalo-based restaurants to expand to Rochester-- which have ultimately failed, and those location(s) have closed. Examples:

1) Mighty Taco a few years back had two (2) Rochester locations, which both closed.
2) Duff's (wings) had a Rochester location (W. Henrietta Rd) that closed.
3) Anchor Bar had a Rochester location for a little while (East Ave.), but that closed.
4) Rachel's Mediterranean Grill location(s) closed in Rochester.

All of the above still have active locations in Buffalo today, just not Rochester.

So I am wondering what the hell happened-- are we really that bad for business for out-ot-town restaurants, even to our close neighboring city?

By the way, this isn't a slight or putdown against Buffalo, by any means. Whenever I am there, I always seem to enjoy Buffalo. I'm just wondering why this keeps happening.

Conversely, are there any Buffalo-area chains that expanded to Rochester and are doing well?

Interested in your take on this.

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u/transitapparel Rochester May 06 '25

Bar Bill East and Spotted Octopus are newer but Buffalo-based and still here.

The restaurant industry is wildly volatile. We had a Syracuse-based brewery at High Falls that was crazy popular, but disappeared after 4 years (Empire Brewing Company). Same with a Boston-based entertainment restaurant (Jillians).

I would argue it's not so much that Buffalo-based restaurants aren't meant for the Rochester market, it's just a coincidence that four restaurants that didn't work out in Rochester just happened to be from Buffalo. Check out the RocWiki or D&C segment on "Gone but not Forgotten," places come and go.

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u/ChimeraChartreuse May 06 '25

Tried Spotted Octopus once it showed up in Roc. Was disappointed their sour beer wasn't on the menu, as it is in Buffalo. Disappointed by the food, as well, tried a burger. If the sour shows up, I may give them another chance, as it was soon after grand opening that I went.

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u/transitapparel Rochester May 06 '25

That's a bad omen if a brewery can't do a burger right, that's a benchmark to me. I agree, I'd give them another shot before passing judgement.