When one of the city's patriarchs (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) senses the growing hopelessness and apathy in his community, he decides to retire and close the doors on the last local industry in town. When the Street Corner Kids discover one of their friends will be forced to move because his father is one of the casualties of the closing, they determine they must do something to prevent Elmira from becoming a ghost town. An uplifting story about a declining American city, Street Corner Kids 2: A Place Called Elmira addresses the values of family and friendship, and how the actions of children can make a difference.