Wegmans Demolition Day

The old East Avenue Wegmans is finally coming down to pave the way for a newer version.

People flocked to see a part of Rochester history crash to the ground.

It's the end of an era on East Avenue and while this just looks like the demolition of just another building, to those in this community - it means so much more.

"I bought my lunch there for almost 45 years," said Jim Lill, an onlooker

Jim Lill left his job at Harris everyday to get a bite at Wegmans.

"The part that was the wood right there was the original Wegmans store and then the part beyond it was an addition," said Lill.

"You can't fight a machine like that," said Lill as he watched contractors

Now the machinery is taking a bite out of his old store.

"8:46:34 It's the end of an era you know because it is the last small store :39*"

Demolition of the Rochester institution drew quite the crowd.

" It's nuts they just go," said Emily Verstraete.

Emily Verstraete is capturing a piece of the history by documenting demolition for a city youth project.

"This is really cool being here because I have never seen anything this big being torn apart," said Verstraete.

Even a Rochester city fire crew stopped to catch a glimpse. Just ask a kid - this is the coolest thing ever.

"I want to see it all get knocked down because it would be a great experience because I never seen it before," said Mason Clement, who came to watch the tear-down with his dad.

So out with the old and in with the new.

"You have to get over that it's going to be knocked down. I know that there are like old memories here shopping at Wegmans but you have to make new memories at the new Wegmans," said Clement.

Demolition will continue through March to turn the old store into a parking lot.

The new store is expected to open May 19.