Ohio Open Doors Tap Talk: History of Music in Kent

The Ohio Open Doors celebration begins at 7 pm with a special Tap Talks at North Water Brewing featuring three local authors who together have chronicled Kent’s pivotal role in the history of Rock music from the 1960s until today. Our speakers will be Jason Prufer, author of Small Town, Big Music; Chas Madonio, author of Bars, Bands, and Rock and Roll; and Ryan Brannon, author of Touring from Kent--Rock Bands on the Road.

The North Water Brewing Co. building at 101 Crain Ave. in Kent, Ohio, was originally home to Knapp Collision, an auto repair garage located within the town’s historic Mill District. Renovated and opened as a brewery in November 2020, the structure was chosen for its industrial character, proximity to the Cuyahoga River, and location on a hike-and-bike trail.

Key Details in the Building's History:

• Previous Use: The building served as a collision repair shop.
• Repurposing: The structure was acquired and renovated to house a brewery,, including transforming former bay doors into a, feature for, the new space and utilizing, the auto, repair garage, for, the taproom, according to Beacon Journal and Record-Courier.
• Industrial Character: The design team aimed to embrace the "under-utilized industrial structure" as part of the surrounding neighborhood's revitalization.
• Brewery Transformation: The renovation, led in part by Ryan Ailes of Ailes Millwork, was delayed slightly by the pandemic but was completed in 2020.
• Significance: It is located in the historic area near the former Williams Brothers Flour Mill, reinforcing the industrial heritage of the area.