So, Why DOES Wells Fargo Go Across 1st Avenue?

Why does Wells Fargo stretch across 1st Avenue instead of just going up? The answer is a pretty cool story that starts in 1979.

Opened in 1927, the Chateau Theatre has been a part of Rochester, so much so, that in 1979, when Wells Fargo talked about buying it and demolishing it for a new downtown bank, John Kruesel and other locals started the Worldwide Friends of the Chateau Theatre to save it from the wrecking ball.

The fought hard and in 1980, the Chateau was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in a meeting with the group, Wells Fargo agreed to build over first Avenue, connecting to the Kahler.

And that's why the bank goes over the street, and not up.

Some information came from the Rochester Post Bulletin.