ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The city of Rochester celebrated the official opening of La Marketa at the International Plaza off of North Clinton Avenue Thursday morning in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

What You Need To Know

  • The International Plaza has been in the making for the last 40 years

  • Place for the community to hosts events, restaurants, and other vendors.

  • The next four Sundays will hosts vendors for Market Sundays

The plaza is meant to be a place where the Latino community can share its culture with the rest of Rochester through food and businesses.

Mayor Lovely Warren, who was at the event, said the International Plaza has been in the works for 40 years. It has a stage for performances and events and some locally-owned restaurants are anchored in shipping containers around the plaza. 

Mayor Warren said this is just what the community needs right now. 

“With all the turmoil and unrest in the community we’ve experienced in the last few months, it is a pleasure to officially see the opening of a space that will serve to bring us all together to celebrate our differences and embrace what makes us common,” said Warren.

The plaza was celebrated with a youth Latin dance performance and music by radio station Poder 97.1. 

The mayor also gave plaques to those who have been advocates for the Latino community in the city. 

People can purchase bricks to be placed at the plaza that they can have engraved with the name of a loved one or to help advertise their business. There are also storyboards up with the story of the surrounding neighborhood.

Starting on Sunday, there will be four Market Sundays with local vendors for people to shop at and check the plaza out.