Rochester, NY – Two Rochester-area institutions have been added to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. Lipman’s Kosher Market in Brighton and Record Archive in Rochester were nominated by Assemblywoman Sarah Clark.

Assemblywoman Clark: “Lipman’s Kosher Market and Record Archive have played a major role in our community for decades, helping to feed both bodies and minds. These businesses have invested not just in the economy of our community, but in our culture. I am so proud to have these Rochester institutions in my district and thankful that they have been recognized by the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.”

Lipman’s Kosher Market traces its origins to 1919, when, upon returning home from fighting in the first World War, Morris Lipman and business partner Benjamin Sanzel opened Sanzel & Lipman Market at 33 Hanover Street, joining the many Jewish delis and kosher markets in Rochester’s 8th Ward. Over the next few years, they would move to 22 Herman Street and then to 321 Hudson Avenue in 1922. As the neighborhood evolved, Lipman and Sanzel would make a similar move as many of their neighbors, moving to 1108-1112 Monroe Avenue in 1941.

Upon Morris Lipman’s death in 1951, Benjamin Sanzel operated the market on his own until 1954. Morris’s son Albert bought out Sanzel’s share and reopened Lipman’s Meat Market at 1462 Monroe Avenue in the town of Brighton, relocating in 1972 to their current location at 1482 Monroe Avenue. In 1993 Albert retired, selling the business to employee Aharon Baruch. He, in turn, sold the business to Naftali and Anna Hanau upon his retirement in 2025. Albert Lipman passed away in 2000.

Naftali Hanau: “Lipman’s has been the kosher market in Rochester for 75 years. I grew up coming into this store; I would actually get off the bus early and come in here and get bologna and buy things and charge it to my mother’s house account. Now I have the children of my classmates coming in on their own because their parents are sending them over. It’s pretty special. No one cares about the community the way that the people who live here and grew up here do.”

Anna Hanau: “There are so many ways these businesses are important in people’s lives. Somebody’s born; we send food. Somebody dies; we send food. It’s more than just a business. It is the food that sustains us in all of these moments. We don’t take that lightly. We’re really glad that this is the way that we can contribute to our community.”

Record Archive was founded in 1975 when Richard Storms found that records were the best-selling items at his flea market antique booth. Soon after, renting space in the Village Green bookstore and cafe at 766 Monroe Avenue in Rochester, the first permanent Record Archive opened.

In 1980, the store moved to 1388 Mt. Hope Avenue, completed by the Record Archive Back Room music venue. Growing in popularity, a second location at 1740 Monroe Avenue in Brighton operated for several years beginning in late 1983. In 1985, Record Archive East opened at 1880 East Avenue.

In 2005, with the rise of the internet - both as a shopping platform and source for music - Record Archive closed its long-standing store on Mt. Hope Avenue, consolidating in the East Avenue location. Three years later, as the area was redeveloped, Record Archive moved a quarter mile down the street to 33 ⅓ Rockwood Place, where they continue to operate as New York’s largest record store. The 2017 opening of the Back Room Lounge made Record Archive the first record store in New York to feature a performance space with a bar, offering beer and wine.

Record Archive’s community and industry recognition includes repeated selection as Best Record Store in Rochester City Magazine, Independent Spirit Awards by the Music Business Association in 2019. In April 2025 Record Archive was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.

Richard Storms: “We started Sunday, September 16, 1975 with four tables of records and a sign. This store is kind of a dream. I’m a believer that a business’s name should be its mission statement and Record Archive is our mission statement and it was from the very beginning.”

Stormy Storms: “What bonds all that together is this big sense of community. We wouldn’t have been open for fifty years if Rochester’s huge music community didn’t support us at every turn. One of the things I really enjoy is seeing intergenerational shoppers come in. We’ll have three generations all shopping together and sharing their taste in music together and talk about what is important to them. We’ve had people have their weddings here because they met at the store. I think music is the great unifier and it’s an honor to be the custodian of it.

New York State’s Historic Business Preservation Registry (HBPR) was established in 2020, and was enhanced in 2023. The program is administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation and highlights businesses that have been in operation for at least 50 years and have contributed to their community’s history. At a time when many businesses face new and unique challenges, this registry allows us to recognize and honor historic businesses, while providing educational and promotional assistance to ensure their continued viability and success.

Nominations to the HBPR must be sponsored by an elected state official, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the Senate or Assembly. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis and updates to the interactive map are made quarterly.

View the Historic Business Preservation Registry interactive map at: https://parks.ny.gov/historic-preservation/business-registry/