Gov. Hochul announces Constellation Brands’ move to Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was in Rochester Wednesday to help announce Fortune 500 company Constellation Brands move from its headquarters in Victor to downtown Rochester.

The major relocation from Victor, New York in Ontario County to the historic Aqueduct Building located along the Genesee River is being hailed by the governor as a game-changing decision.

"Constellation Brands’ exciting decision to expand its regional operations and establish its new headquarters in downtown Rochester will help to further advance our efforts to create new, good-paying jobs and a thriving city center," Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

News10NBC first brought you the news Tuesday based on confirmed information from sources.

“A company like Constellation that has been around for 75 years they’ve just created an international brand and we’re so happy they called this home,” Hochul said.

According to the company’s press release, nearly 400 employees will work in the City of Rochester in the 170,000 square feet Aqueduct building. Although the global headquarters will be in Monroe County, company officials said there will continue to be a significant presence in Ontario County where the company was founded. Approximately 200 employees will stay located on North Bloomfield Road in Canandaigua, N.Y.

"We believe the Aqueduct campus is a great headquarter location for our growing company providing our employees a modern work environment that will continue to foster collaboration within the company and the community," Bill Newlands, President and chief executive officer of Constellation Brands said. "We look forward to contributing to the economic development and job creation of the Rochester area for years to come."

The state and city will expedite the Aqueduct Reimagined project adjacent to the new headquarters campus to align with Constellation Brands’ renovation plans and anticipated move-in date. Utility upgrades on the Aqueduct campus is expected to begin mid-to-late 2022.

"Downtown Rochester is on fire, there are things going on everywhere right now and this just throws logs on that fire,” said Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Robert Duffy.

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren agrees with the sentiment.

We see the rebirth of our downtown, because we stopped turning our backs, to our river and finally decided to Roc our Riverway,” Warren said.

You can watch the news conference in the player below: