The Brass Rail

The Brass Rail at 596 S. Main St. was first listed in the Akron City Directories in 1946 and last listed in 1968. The owner of this bar was William J. Balaun, of Balaun’s Cut Rate Stores.

According to Balaun’s 1979 obituary, he owned several restaurants and stores in Akron, Canton and Cleveland, as well as the concession stands at Cedar Point in the 1940s. He started his career as an 11-year-old soda jerk at the Hotel Onesto in Downtown Canton.