1 day Ago By Jeff Kiger
ROCHESTER — Things might be looking up for downtown Rochester with something new in the works for a once popular rooftop. Construction on the seventh floor of the H3 Plaza building at 30 Third St. SE is the first step in a possible new project in the space once occupied by La Vetta from 2015 to 2018 and a short run as H3 Rooftop.
ADVERTISEMENT Earlier this month, building permits were filed with the City of Rochester for “a restaurant renovation” described as “H3 Rooftop Interior Remodel.” The project was valued at $295,600. While it is clear that something is cooking on the top level of the 10-year-old H3 Plaza, specific details are still being worked out, according to Titan Development & Investments, which owns the building.
“The 7th-floor rooftop space at H3 Plaza is currently undergoing renovations as part of our vision to bring this unique and sought-after location back to life. Although we do not yet have a signed lease for this space, Titan has chosen to take the calculated risk of moving forward with resetting, renovating, and activating this valuable asset in Downtown Rochester,” wrote Titan’s Director of Construction and Development Brian Moser. Rochester developer and Titan CEO Andy Chafoulias originally built the plaza in 2015 on the site where the C.
O Brown Insurance building previously stood. While early development plans for the H3 building evolved from being six stories and from being an entertainment venue with a jazz club and a brewery, the vision always included a rooftop bar patio. Chafoulias even toyed with the idea of having a retractable roof.
La Vetta, which means “summit” in Italian, was the creation of Twin Cities-based Nova Restaurant Group. Nova opened Terza on the street level of the building and La Vetta was its highly-elevated sibling. La Vetta was a hot downtown spot for a late night summer drink or dinner for years.
In the winter of 2017, La Vetta made headlines by trying to extend its outdoor season by adding heated dining “igloos” to protect customers from the weather. There were some safety concerns about the igloos, which were not as popular with customers as hoped. ADVERTISEMENT In 2019, Minneapolis-based Entourage Events Group re-launched the space as the H3 Rooftop and featured performances by "top rated DJs from places like L.
A. and New York City" as well as a bar and a menu provided by Nova. Later, the rooftop became available to be rented out for events.
The roof of the H3 Plaza has been dark in recent years. Now Titan is hoping to light it up again. “We recognize the growing enthusiasm from the high volume of people utilizing the downtown area who have been eagerly anticipating the revitalization of this space.
Titan is proud to lead the way in supporting and enhancing Downtown Rochester by investing in its development and activation,” wrote Moser. “We are thrilled to continue our efforts to bring vibrancy and energy to this incredible community hub. Once we finalize the lease, we look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone.
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