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Drink and be merry at The Rail, Turlocks newest bar
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Bartenders Rebecca Welch, Blanca de la Torre, Heather Pacheco, and Marissa Coronado will serve up a variety of drinks at The Rail from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Name: The Rail

Type of Business: Bar

Location: 2321 West Main St., Suite D

Hours: 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Contact: 668-1010

History of Business: When the Turlock Poker Room established itself on West Main Street in 2009 the owner harbored plans to eventually expand to include a bar. That day has finally come with the opening of The Rail.

The name of the bar was selected due to its many connotations: it’s a poker term for those surrounding and watching a poker game; it’s a reference to rail drinks and the large rail that often surrounds a bar counter; and it harkens to the nearby train tracks. Nestled in between the Turlock Regal Movie Theater and the Turlock Poker Room, The Rail is located in a room offset from the poker room but also has its own entrance facing West Main Street.

“So even if you’re not a big fan of gambling, you don’t have to set a foot in the poker room,” explained bar manager Paul Pires.

Pires was plucked from the local restaurant scene, an industry in which he has worked since he was 18 years old, to run The Rail.  With hopes to draw employees from the nearby industrial plants as well as those looking to relax before or after a movie, The Rail has what Pires calls a “laid back” atmosphere with its rustic decor that may include live music in the future. There are also multiple televisions that will showcase games and specials coinciding with Monday Night Football, the Super Bowl, and the like.

Planning to coordinate additional specials and events with the poker room, The Rail will offer a range of drinks including mimosas and a Bloody Mary bar for the early crowd. Pires also said that a bar menu will be cultivated in partnership with Rico’s Pizza next door to cater to patrons on an as-needed basis.

“It’s almost like a mini casino,” said Pires.

The Rail is open from 5 p.m. until late until Monday when it will launch its regular hours 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.

 Business Specialty: Craft cocktails made from scratch; easygoing atmosphere