'It's a gathering place': Iconic Brass Rail Bar reopens in Port Huron

Four friends sat in a booth at the Brass Rail Wednesday, swapping stories over tall glasses of beer of their favorite times at the iconic downtown Port Huron bar. This was the place where they celebrated birthdays, holidays, weddings and all the mundane things in between, from a weekend or weeknight gathering to a place for sailors to come after a day on the water.

"It's more than a bar. It's a gathering place," Patti Samar said while sitting with her friends.

On Wednesday, for the first time in more than two-and-a-half years, the lights came on at the Brass Rail Bar.

A large Christmas display heavy with ornaments hung on the mirror behind the bar. Garland and Christmas lights encircled the bar's ceiling and black-and-white photographs of hockey players, baseball teams and Port Huron figures from years past. Figurines of Santas and angels perched on the garland trim.

Co-owner Debbie Palazzolo, who bought the bar with her husband, said she is excited to carry on the previous owner's tradition of decorating the bar for Christmas and of serving the popular Christmas drink known as Tom and Jerry's.

"The Christmas lights, you just don't forget it," she said. "It reminds you of being at Bronner's."

Previous owner Helen David opened the Brass Rail in 1937. After her death in the mid-2000s, her cousin, Maroun Abou-Ghanem, took ownership. But the bar shuttered during the pandemic before being put up for sale after his death last year.

The Brass Rail, located at 410 Huron Ave., is open from noon to midnight seven days a week. Call (810) 294-5002 to reach the bar, or visit their Facebook page at Brass Rail Bar to see updates.

Palazzolo, who is based in Florida with her husband but will be traveling back and forth to get the bar up and running with her adult children, said she is excited to open and operate the bar in the spirit of David. She said she plans to be involved in the community, much like David was, by sponsoring athletic leagues, raising money for charities like Toys for Tots and being open to whatever organizations approach her.

"I just feel it in my heart that it's the right homage to Helen," Palazzolo said.

And part of keeping the bar in the spirit of David is keeping it mostly unchanged. The red-and black booths and red chairs, as well as the bar itself, look the same as they did before it was shuttered. The bar is cash-only, with an ATM available. Palazzolo said she wants to keep drink prices reasonable.

Currently, The Brass Rail only serves nachos, cheese and soft pretzels, but Palazzolo plans to add a rotisserie after the holidays for hot dogs and bratwurst. Eventually, she would like to add charcuterie for bloody Mary Saturdays. Patrons are welcome to bring in their own food from downtown restaurants to eat while they drink, she said.

Palazzolo said the community has been supportive and excited when they learned the bar was opening, from people on Facebook to strangers at the grocery store.

"We're very excited to open to the community," Palazzolo said. "Any supplier, contractor, person walking down the street, have all told me, they've all got a story about the Brass Rail from days past."

Samar, along with her friends, Jody Skonieczny, Jeanine McCanham and Jerry Noble, said they had been coming to the bar for almost 30 years and knew David. They were previously featured in the Times Herald for being one of the first patrons at Christmas to order a Tom and Jerry, and were the first patrons at the bar Wednesday.

They appreciate that the bar has remained unchanged.

"There are a lot of memories here," Samar said.

Terry Ruff nursed a beer with a friend. A younger version of him posed with a baseball team in an framed photograph on the wall above him.

Ruff said David sponsored his adult baseball team. He had been frequenting the bar for about 50 years, visiting the bar after dates with his wife and sports games.

"It's just great to see that it's coming back to downtown Port Huron," he said.

Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Iconic Brass Rail Bar in downtown Port Huron reopens Wednesday