The Visor

The Corral Sandwich Shop: 72 years old and standing strong

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October 8, 2009

Lindsay Huth

Though many people flock to Skyway and Swenson’s, few know about the other historic drive-in in Akron: Corral Sandwich Shop. Less than five minutes from Hoban, the 72-year-old landmark is still serving up classic diner food for the young and old alike.

“It’s been an adventure,” 29-year Corral employee Jeanie Frye said. “It’s changed so much since I started working here.”

The restaurant was born to a man named George Jackson in 1937, a time when drive-ins were not common. Jackson sold it to Jim Still who also ran the Spotless Spot, the burger joint across the street. When he retired, he sold it to his general manager, Celesta Simons. Although Simons later sold it her son, she still comes in twice a day to make her soups and chilis from scratch.

“It gives me something to get up for,” Simons said. “It keeps me younger.”

84-year-old started her Corral career as a curb girl at the age of 18 on February 2, 1951.

“When I started working here, hamburgs were 10 cents, hot dogs were 15 cents and fries were 7 cents,” Simons said.

Over the years, more than just the prices have changed, however.

“We used to pluck the chickens ourselves,” Corral cook Lisa Trout said.

The drive-in also hosted car shows and was regularly packed full of hungry customers.

“My best friend and I used to work here, and there would be 5 rows of cars outside,” Frye said.

Though it is not quite as busy nowadays, there is still no need for advertising since the locals keep coming.

“Everybody knows it’s here,” Frye said. “It’s a landmark.”

Continuing its legacy of quality food, Corral still makes its milkshakes the old-fashioned way and its sauce, onion rings, sausage gravy, soups and chilis from scratch. The most popular items prove to be the onion rings, foot-long coney dogs, chocolate milkshakes and their famous Nitemares, burgers with cheese, lunchmeat, lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup, relish and a huge slice of onion on a toasted bun.

“They put it [the Nitemare] together and tried to name it,” Simons said. “Someone said that if they ate it they would have a nightmare, so that is what they called it.”

With its quality homemade food like the Nitemare and classic drive-in atmosphere, Corral Sandwich Shop is a secret too good to be kept.

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