The Fortune 500 beverage company, which was founded as a small bulk wine company in 1945 in Canandaigua by Marvin Sands and subsequently led by sons Richard and Rob Sands, who still serves on the company's board, has never lost sense of where its roots are, said Bill Newlands, president and CEO of the global beverage giant. 

“What a run it's been," Newlands said. "I think it’s important that we as a company recognize our roots here and that it is a bright future we expect both for our company and for the Rochester area."

The company, which still has an office in Canandaigua, officially opened its global headquarters on Monday, nearly three years after announcing a move from leased space in Victor. More importantly, as speakers from Gov. Kathy Hochul to Rochester Mayor Malik Evans to Monroe County Executive Adam Bello noted, the company could have moved anywhere else but instead chose Rochester.

Referring to the shooting star in the company logo atop the building, Hochul said the company, which invested $54 million into the project with the help of state tax incentives and credits, provided a “symbol of true belief in a community” with its new home. 

“That star is the guiding light to what other companies can do in repurposing buildings that have been long abandoned,” Hochul said. “That shining star sometimes shows up and people see the light.” 

This is just the beginning, Hochul said, because other companies will want to be part of this and not miss out.

"The talent will follow places like this,” Hochul said. 

About 300 employees, including an expected 80 new employees, will come to work at the newly renovated 170,000 square-foot campus, which includes six buildings at the Broad Street site on the Genesee River. Many employees started at the beginning of June. 

"Employee engagement is up. Collaboration is up and it will help us recruit and attract new and exciting people for the future to help ensure our success continues for decades to come," Newlands said.

Words of praise for Constellation Brands 
Mayor Evans said this is the first Fortune 500 to call downtown Rochester home in decades.

"This is not only a significant milestone for Constellation Brands but also for the city of Rochester," Evans said. "Because they said yes we believe in the revitalization of Rochester. Yes, we believe in Rochester's people. More importantly, they said yes, we believe in Rochester's future."

County Executive Bello called the renovation of this vacant iconic landmark a historic project.

"(This) symbolizes a new era for downtown Rochester," Bello said. 

Rep. Joe Morelle, D-Irondequoit, called the office “spectacular and breathtaking,” and further proves innovation is in Rochester’s DNA.  

“This company is the embodiment of that,” Morelle said. 

What happens to the Constellation Brands office in Canandaigua?

Newlands said the new headquarters in Rochester is a more centralized location for employees, many of whom said they were tired of working remotely.

Rochester is critically important to the future of Western New York and to the company, Newlands said.

Canandaigua was the original location of the company, and it owns the building on North Bloomfield Road.

"We're offering our employees the benefit of going either to Canandaigua or to here," Newlands said. "Both of those facilities will be used as part of our future. We're so excited to be downtown and we think this is going to be a foundation for a lot of great things for Rochester going forward."

Here is what Constellation Brands is known for

Constellation Brands owns in the Corona brand family, which includes Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, Modelo Cheladas, Pacifico, and Victoria. Fine wine and craft spirits brands include The Prisoner Wine Company, Robert Mondavi Winery, Casa Noble Tequila and High West Whiskey. Premium wine brands include Kim Crawford and Meiomi.

Article written by Mike Murphy at the Democrat and Chronicle