Archimage

Specialties

Archimage is probably best described as a highly compact, alternative department store. We first opened our doors in 1983, and after 30 years in business relying on word of mouth for our advertising, we’re not afraid to say we’re very good at what we do. The remarkable diversity of unusual merchandise we carry can be generally sorted into the following departments: Apparel & Accessories, Jewelry, Toys, Gifts, Housewares, Stationary, Bodycare & Candles, Incense, Eastern, Collectible Mineralogy, Drums & Musical Instruments.

History

Established in 1983.

We are a small family-​owned business. We first opened our doors in September of 1983 at the current location, but at approximately ¹⁄₃ of the floor space. Over the years we have expanded twice, and now occupy the entire ground floor of our building. The original owners are still running the store in a fully hands-​on manner, and though you are likely to interact with our excellent staff, you can usually find an owner here, at work.

We use the tag «668 On the Avenue» because Monroe Avenue is a storied thoroughfare of commerce and culture like no other in Rochester. Our particular block has a pretty remarkable history as the hip alternative destination for the kind of shopping experience you might look for in, say, NYC or Toronto. Over the years Archimage has become the anchor store here, but we’ve never forgotten what «the Avenue» has been for us.