News 5-17-07 Longs Drugs Takes Several Steps Back
5/17/07 - LONGS DRUGS: WHAT NOW? - So close to opening, and now so far away. A tipster reports all the signage for Longs Drugs downtown is covered up. I guess covered up is better than taken down, but geez, this is getting ridiculous. A couple of sources tell me this months-long delay is centered around Longs wanting to install slot machines and having some kind of trouble getting the gaming license. The project is nearly complete, yet has been stalled for months now. I'll get some pics this evening on my dog walk.
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Posted by: doofus - 5/17/2007 6:25:12 PM
Man, when I pick up my MediCade antidepressant prescription(s), I'm just jonsin' to drop a few quarters in the slots. This supposed to be a friggin' drug/convenience store to serve the downtown neighborhood. Why are slots part of the business model and the item that is keeping them from opening to serve the community? Long's seems to do just fine in a bunch of other states without them. My dog groomer is looking at puting in a few slots. Jeez.
Posted by: UrbanObserver - 5/17/2007 8:01:19 PM
I understand the property owner still maintains a gaming license for that site, and would be obliged to relinquish his in order for Longs to get theirs... at this point, this is probably more of a squabble to see who gets what cut of the gaming pie for that site than anything else... when the Palladio opens, they will get this resolved.
Posted by: bugsy - 5/18/2007 9:23:01 AM
Better late than never. Downtown is still in desperate need for more retail and especially box store retail. As a resident at riverwalk towers, im looking forward to the day where i will not have to get into my car to do my shopping. Any word yet on what retail will go on the bottom floor of the riverwalk tower. I ask the directors of my home owners but they have no clue by telling me that they have nothing to do with it. Can you find me the answer?
Posted by: Mike Van H - 5/18/2007 9:56:28 AM
Hi Bugsy! You will be stoked to know that the bottom floor of the Riverwalk is one of two possible locations the Redevelopment Agency is eying for a permanent year-round indoor farmer's market. It would be a fusion of local farmers and artists selling stuff. The Redevelopment Agency will be discussing entering into negotiations with the Farmers Market Association at their May 23 meeting at 2:00 in the City Council Chambers downtown. I STRONGLY urge you to go and voice your support for the Riverwalk Towers location for the Farmers Market.
Posted by: bugsy - 5/18/2007 10:20:30 AM
sounds great, I will be supporting this and will urge the Home owners board to also support this. Thanks for the info Mike.
Posted by: ModGirl - 5/18/2007 11:47:05 AM
Speaking of the farmer's market, I am curious whether or not they are going to knock out some of the walls and replace them with roll up glass garage doors. Why not make the farmer's market an indoor/outdoor thing (like Seattle's), taking advantge of our 300 sunny days a year! I know if I saw from the outside what was going on, I would be more likely to check it out. Just a thought as I was reading your last comment. I can't wait to buy some fresh fruit and daisies then throw down a few dimes in the Long's Drugs' slot machines! YIPPEE!
Posted by: Justin - 5/18/2007 3:14:41 PM
ModGirl: Roll-up glass garage doors are a great suggestion! I'm picturing it along the lines of Cantina Los Tres Hombres in Victorian Square. I am very excited about a year-round farmers market in Reno, but think the bottom floor of a condo tower is a bit strange in terms of the "feel" of the space. Large glass roll-up doors would help make it more open and inviting for people to enter from the street. Another suggested location, as previously reported by Mike, is The Freight House. If they developed this parcel to it's full potential I think this would be much better suited as a Farmers Market. I'm thinking something along the lines of the Ferry Building in San Francisco, more than Pikes Place Market in Seattle. (Ferry Building website: http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/)
Posted by: Ken - 5/22/2007 2:40:47 PM
I have to throw in support of the Freight House market over the Riverwalk too. The Freight House is more the shape and size a farmer's market requires and has a large empty lot right next to it which could be a great outdoor market as well. SOMETHING needs to happen to the bottom floor of Riverwalk either way, however... that thing's ugly