Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A Rochester business owner whose company is named after Lake Ontario is having a little fun with President Donald Trump's executive order renaming it "Lake America," while Rochester City Council is taking a more formal stand against the change.
Pouya Seifzadeh owns Ontario Play & Cafe, a sensory-safe indoor playground on Scottsville Road named after Lake Ontario and featuring nautical-themed attractions.
"We have birthday parties — thousands of kids have had their birthday parties here over the years," Seifzadeh said.
"Ontario" has been part of the business's name for roughly 11 years.
After Trump signed the executive order directing the federal government to rename the Great Lake, Seifzadeh poked fun at the change in an Instagram reel that read in part: "Do you know how much new signs cost?"
"We found it very hilarious that that is happening to us," Seifzadeh said. "So we just had a very good laugh about it. Of course, we're not gonna — our name is not going to change."
Trump's executive order directs the Interior Department to update the lake's name in the U.S. geographic naming system.
Rochester City Council is also pushing back against the change, unanimously signing a proclamation Friday affirming that the city will continue using the name Lake Ontario in all official local capacities. Council President Miguel Meléndez also plans to introduce a memorializing resolution calling on the Trump administration to reverse its decision.
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/local/lake-ontario-business-owner-responds-to-trumps-lake-america-name-change
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A Rochester business owner whose company is named after Lake Ontario is having a little fun with President Donald Trump's executive order renaming it "Lake America," while Rochester City Council is taking a more formal stand against the change.
Pouya Seifzadeh owns Ontario Play & Cafe, a sensory-safe indoor playground on Scottsville Road named after Lake Ontario and featuring nautical-themed attractions.
"We have birthday parties — thousands of kids have had their birthday parties here over the years," Seifzadeh said.
"Ontario" has been part of the business's name for roughly 11 years.
After Trump signed the executive order directing the federal government to rename the Great Lake, Seifzadeh poked fun at the change in an Instagram reel that read in part: "Do you know how much new signs cost?"
"We found it very hilarious that that is happening to us," Seifzadeh said. "So we just had a very good laugh about it. Of course, we're not gonna — our name is not going to change."
Trump's executive order directs the Interior Department to update the lake's name in the U.S. geographic naming system.
Rochester City Council is also pushing back against the change, unanimously signing a proclamation Friday affirming that the city will continue using the name Lake Ontario in all official local capacities. Council President Miguel Meléndez also plans to introduce a memorializing resolution calling on the Trump administration to reverse its decision.
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/local/lake-ontario-business-owner-responds-to-trumps-lake-america-name-change
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: facebook.com/13WHAM
13 WHAM on Twitter: twitter.com/13WHAM
13WHAM on Instagram: instagram.com/13whamtv/?hl=en
13WHAM on TikTok: tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en
13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit 13wham.com
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#13WHAM #News #Rochester #NewYork
