Rochester, N.Y. — After 43 years, Marketplace Mall in Henrietta is closing its doors. Though the mall’s attendance has dwindled significantly leading up to its closure, its final day of operation was attended by a record-shattering crowd of mall regulars.

Over 25,000 rodents gathered on a snowy December 31st to celebrate, reminisce, and share memories from Marketplace Mall’s extensive history.

“We’re gonna miss this place,” said Marc, a brown rat whose family has lived in the mall for over three decades. “There’s not a store here that I don’t have a memory of. I gave a 7-year-old Lyme disease at Sears in 1997.” When asked for further comment, Marc bit my hand and scurried off. Results from my Lyme disease tests are still being processed.

“It feels like yesterday I was giving birth in the Macy’s dumpster,” said Kathy, a black rat who has lived in the mall for 13 years. “Now I’ve got 67 children with another four on the way. It’s hard to believe they won’t get to see where they come from.”

Many of the rodents in attendance suggested they will be relocating to Victor Mall instead, some moving in with family already established there and some looking to plant new roots for them and their families.