Friends of the Rochester Public Market joins city in celebrating 50th anniversary of City Mark

Rochester, New York – The City of Rochester is marking the 50th anniversary of its City Mark with a new partnership that brings the celebration to one of the city’s most familiar gathering places, the Rochester Public Market.

Mayor Malik D. Evans joined leaders of the Friends of the Rochester Public Market to announce the partnership and the availability of a new commemorative book about the history and meaning of the City Mark.

The publication, titled “Creating Community Through Design: The Rochester City Mark at 50,” is now available for purchase at the Public Market. The book costs $25 and looks at the design, history and cultural importance of the logo over the past five decades.

“The City Mark is our very own iconic Rochester trademark, and we are celebrating its longevity and continued popularity all year,” said Mayor Evans. “The book is a visually stunning account of the inspiration, creation, and success of the logo, and the team also decided to make some T-shirts and other official merchandise available after we received a lot of community requests.”

The Friends of the Market will sell the commemorative book along with official City Mark merchandise at their booth during regular Market hours. The merchandise includes T-shirts and baseball caps.

The booth will be open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, as well as during some special events held at the Market.

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There is also a community benefit tied to the sales. All proceeds from the City Mark book and merchandise will go directly toward supporting the work of the Friends of the Public Market, including its SNAP Token program.

The announcement comes as the Public Market prepares for one of its busiest weekends. The schedule includes Oktoberfest on Friday, Market Days on Saturday and the annual Artist Row event on Sunday.

For the Friends of the Rochester Public Market, taking part in the City Mark anniversary is about more than selling merchandise. The organization said the partnership gives it a chance to support a broader celebration of Rochester and its identity.

“We are excited about this partnership with the City, and look forward to joining the celebrations around Rochester’s City Mark,” said Yolanda Sheffa, president of Friends of the Rochester Public Market. “The Friends are deeply committed not only to our Public Market, but to our city as a whole, and we want to support the positivity and civic pride happening around this year-long celebration of our city’s logo.”

The commemorative book was created specifically for the City Mark’s 50th anniversary. It brings together stories, photographs and different perspectives showing how the symbol has changed and remained relevant as Rochester itself has evolved.

Readers will find archival material and historical information, along with reflections from the community. Together, those elements tell the story of a design that has remained visible throughout the city for generations.

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The City Mark was created in the 1970s as part of the Federal Design Improvement Program. Since then, it has become a recognizable Rochester symbol, appearing across neighborhoods, businesses and creative spaces.

Its reach extends well beyond official city materials. The mark can be seen in many parts of Rochester and has become part of the visual identity associated with the city.

The 50th anniversary celebration is continuing throughout the year, with additional events and activities planned. The commemorative publication gives residents another way to look back at the history of the design while also supporting an organization connected to the Public Market.

The partnership also connects two recognizable parts of Rochester’s civic life. The City Mark represents five decades of the city’s visual identity, while the Public Market remains a place where residents and visitors gather for shopping, events and community activities.

Residents interested in the anniversary book or official City Mark merchandise can visit the Friends of the Rochester Public Market booth during its Saturday operating hours or on select special event days.

More information about the 50th anniversary of the City Mark and upcoming celebrations is available at CityOfRochester.gov/CityMark50. Information about the Friends of the Rochester Public Market is available at MarketFriends.org.