The Rochester area lost some retail businesses in 2025, but new ones are on the way for 2026.
Here are nine ventures, including in the fast-food and furniture categories, expected to open or to add locations here next year.
7 Brew
In 2025, Arkansas-based drive-thru coffee and beverage chain 7 Brew entered the Rochester market with locations in the towns of Sweden and Greece. Plans for shops at 2599 East Henrietta Road, Henrietta, 1968 Empire Blvd., Penfield, and 160 Eastern Blvd., Canandaigua, have been approved by boards in those towns. Recently, 7 Brew revealed it wants to put another location on a portion of the old Sticky Lips BBQ Juke Joint property at 830 Jefferson Road, Henrietta.
Asia Food Market
A specialty supermarket will take over the old Ruby Gordon space at 3737 West Henrietta Road in Henrietta. In November, the Henrietta Planning Board approved plans to repurpose the building to accommodate an Asia Food Market and warehouse. Currently, Asia Food Market is at 1885 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Road. Speaking for the business owners at the meeting, Tin Tin Ren said that location will transition to warehouse space, and the retail operation will move to West Henrietta Road.
Dunk & Bright Furniture
In November, Syracuse-based Dunk & Bright Furniture revealed its purchase of the former Burlington store space in Henrietta’s South Town Plaza and the South Town Plaza monument sign near West Henrietta Road. Workers have removed lettering from the sign, which will get a makeover, including paint and LED sign boards that can be customized, business owner Joe Bright said. Renovations to the Burlington space were to have begun Nov. 13. His hope is that the store, owned by his family for 99 years, will open in April or May of 2026.
Goodwill
Irondequoit is getting a Goodwill store. It will open sometime in 2026 at Skyview on the Ridge in 25,000 square feet of space directly next to the Irondequoit Community Center, Jennifer Lake, president and CEO of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, announced in November. The store will carry gently used apparel, home décor, housewares, furniture and new and seasonal goods.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
In late 2025, Chipotle opened its 14th restaurant in the Rochester market at City Gate. The chain also has gotten approval to build a restaurant with outdoor seating and a drive-thru pickup lane for mobile orders at 4775 West Henrietta Road near Lehigh Station Road.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A will open a restaurant in early 2026 at CityGate. It will be the Atlanta-based chain’s fifth location in the Rochester Market.
Jersey Mike’s Subs
It’s hard to believe that Henrietta doesn’t already have one of everything, chain restaurant-wise, but early next year it should get its first Jersey Mike’s Subs. Franchisee Evan Mayer is hoping for a mid-February opening. He also owns Jersey Mike’s locations in Brighton, Gates, Irondequoit, Rochester and Webster. The Henrietta restaurant will occupy 1,100 square feet of space in a building at 1000 Hylan Drive that already houses a Starbucks and a Wingstop.
Irondequoit Hots
Irondequoit Hots is coming back in a new building in practically the same spot where the original once stood — and with the original owner. Last August, Tom Purdev, who operated the business from 1993 to 2005, got approval from the Irondequoit Planning Board for a new Irondequoit Hots to go up at 633 Titus Ave. The address of the original was 635 Titus. Plans call for a two-story structure with an enclosed patio facing Titus. Construction should start early next year in hopes of a summer 2026 opening, Purdev told the Planning Board.
MOSU Asian BBQ & Hot Pot
The old Red Lobster at 655 Jefferson Road in Henrietta has a new tenant coming in: MOSU Asian BBQ & Hot Pot. Built in the mid-1970s, the Red Lobster building has been vacant since May 2024, when the casual-dining seafood chain shut down dozens of locations nationwide and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (from which it later emerged). In August, the majority of the Henrietta Planning Board signed off on an exterior remodeling plan presented by MOSU owner Khalil Shabib. Diners will cook their food at their tables on gas-fired charcoal barbecues or in soup or broth. The barbecue tables have built-in exhaust systems, so guests don’t leave smelling like smoke…