Experience the joy of sharing a piece of Rochester! These gifts are not just objects; they’re nostalgic expressions of the city, perfect for welcoming newcomers, bidding farewell to long-time residents, or offering a taste of home to distant friends missing Rochester.
Each shop offers a spectrum of Rochester-themed products, from clothing, keychains, and stickers to books, drinkware, and posters. These shops are not just commercial spaces but cultural hubs, representing Rochester’s artistic and communal character and offering a chance for locals and visitors alike to experience and possess a piece of the city’s spirit.
This list represents a handful of places to find merchandise about Rochester, the Erie Canal, the Finger Lakes, the Genesee Valley, and the many villages and colleges throughout the Greater Rochester region.
Let’s explore a few unique shops that allow you to curate quintessentially Rochestergifts.
1. Archimage
668 Monroe Ave
Rochester, NY
(585) 271-2789
From their website:
Archimage opened its doors on September 24, 1983. Its founders are Yong Bom and her husband Peter. A little while after opening, Yong Bom’s brother Yongwoo and sister-in-law Louisa were invited into the business, and that partnership lasted for a number of years. The store is still owned and operated by Yong Bom & Peter today.
Archimage began as a single storefront with mostly natural fiber clothing, toys, imported gifts, and accessories, with the concept in mind of a meeting place for alternative and freethinking people to enjoy themselves and find unique and ethical merchandise they felt good about buying.
2. Little Button Craft
658 South Ave
Rochester, NY
(585) 698-6874
From their website:
The City of Rochester is rich with fantastic art. Rochester is also known for its heart. With that in mind, the mission for Little Button Craft was born: Find a way to marry the idea of a city full of unique crafts and its love for connection and community.
Little Button is proud to help many local Rochester artisans showcase their diverse hand-crafted work. The idea of “local” considers anything created within a 100-mile radius of Rochester, NY. Through this showcase, we aim to provide creative inspiration as well as an affordable and approachable environment to help the Rochester artistic community grow.
3. Parkleigh
215 Park Ave
Rochester, NY
(800) 333-0627
From their website:
Have fun. Feel good. Buy stuff. Voted Rochester’s Best Gift Store by the Democrat and Chronicle and by The City Paper,Parkleigh began as a pharmacy in 1960. In 1986, we said goodbye to the pharmacy and became the gift store you love today. Enjoy our selections of Jellycat, Kiehl’s, E Newton, Katie Loxton, Blue Q, Stonewall Kitchen, Beekman 1802, Nancy’s Candies, gourmet coffee and tea, thousands of greeting cards, and dozens of local and regional products!
4. Peppermint
145 Culver Road
Rochester, NY
(585) 532-8132
From their website:
Peppermint storefront opened in April 2011 when owner Tanvi Asher was just 25. Tanvi had humble beginnings selling her handmade scarves at local craft shows but quickly expanded to include clothing and small gifts. As the popularity of apparel grew, Tanvi decided it was time to have a small storefront. With a desire to start a young contemporarycollection at an affordable price point, the brand has since expanded to offer a full collectionof women’s sportswear featuring dresses, skirts, tops, knits, and outerwear. Inspired byvintage fashion, the designs are modern and feminine silhouettes created in contemporaryprints.
Peppermint is a thriving small business nestled in the heart of the historic Culver Rd Armory in Rochester, NY, with a strong local and national presence. Peppermint strives to bring all women a carefully edited collection of affordable, fashion-forward women’s and young contemporary brands with eye-catching patterns and on-trend colors. Offering a range of casual pieces to beautiful statement dresses, our collections are always changing to embrace new trends.
5. Record Archive
33 1/3 Rockwood Street
Rochester, NY
(585) 244-1210
From their website:
Record Archive has been a music & entertainment destination in Rochester since 1975. Specializing in vintage vinyl, our 13,000 sq. ft. record store includes all of the latest music releases on CD & vinyl, as well as unique gifts & toys, vintage clothing & furniture, t-shirts, souvenirs, 1000’s of movies, audio equipment, and much more!
We are the first record store in the Northeast to have a full-time beer and wine license, which enables our visitors to sip and shop, throw a party, or simply enjoy our many free live music events that we host each and every week.
More Places to Find Unique Rochester Gifts
While it’s a daunting task to list every place where you can find Rochester area-themed gifts, here are a few more around the city where you’ll find regional food, clothing, and accessories. Leave your suggestions in the comments, too!
AE Gifts & Clothing
Main St, Victor
The Bird House
Monroe Ave, Pittsford
Eastman Museum
East Ave, Rochester
Lala
E. Main St, Webster
Main Street Mercantile
Main St, Fairport
Notion
Schoen Place, Pittsford
Rochester Public Market
Railroad Street, Rochester
Make Your Own Rochester GiftsBasket
Curate a selection of local wines,brews, cheeses, sauces, andchocolates. Of course, the links below all point to Wegmans—they’re a warm welcome to new Rochesterians, including college students who will spend the next 4+ years in Rochester.
- Zweigles’RedandWhiteHots
- French’s® Classic Yellow Mustard
- Boss Sauce
- Country Sweet
- RAGÚ Sauce
- Jell-O+Cool Whipfor dessert
Explore More
200+ Places to Shop Locally Around Rochester, New York
Shopping locally is about discovering something uniquely Rochester while directly impacting the lives of our families, friends, and neighbors.
Read more
Shared Rochester Experiences that Make Great Gifts
Giving the gift of shared Rochester experiences offers rewards that go well beyond mere personal joy—where less is genuinely more.
Read more
Craft Beverage Trails Around Rochester
Grab a designated driver and follow these craft beverage trails around Rochester to enjoy a day trip visiting our region’s talented artisans.
Read more
Where are your favorite places to shop for Rochestergifts?
Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.
Debi Bower is the founder and creative director of daytrippingroc.com and author of the award-winning book Day Trips Around Rochester, NewYork.
People often ask me if I get free access to places while exploring. The answer is no unless I’m invited to previews or granted behind-the-scenes access as part of my media role. Generally, I don’t mention my project, Day Trips Around Rochester, NY, because I want the same experience you would have. I create and share content simply because it brings me joy. I would appreciate your support—a cup of coffee or two to help fuel future field trips—if you have found valuable information here that has helped you explore the Rochester area.
