Building to make way for student housing

By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008

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The wrecking ball will begin knocking down a 98-year-old building on South Main Street in downtown Akron this week to make way for a $25 million student housing and retail project.

Demolition of the building on the east side of South Main Street between Exchange and Cedar streets where Jillian's was located is expected to begin Wednesday and take about four days to complete, said Walter Jakubiak, supervisor of Eslich Wrecking of Louisville.

Crews today are expected to take down the archway between the Jillian's building and the building that continues to house Brubaker's Pub at 373 S. Main St.

The demolition is part of a project that will provide housing to 450 University of Akron students as well as retail space along South Main Street.

Ultimately, the Brubaker's building also will be torn down, but the date is unknown.
Brubaker's remains open and its owner, Scott Brewer, said plans are for his pub to be part of the new development, even though details haven't been worked out.

Martin Mehall, owner of the downtown housing-retail project, said his company is trying to get a coffee shop and some of the ''most exciting retailers you can imagine'' in the store space.

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