El Cortez's Awning Comes Down, Exposes Beautiful Work Underneath

El Cortez's hideous awning that doesn't match the building at all, is coming down, much to the delight of Noble Pie Parlor owners Trevor Leppek and Ryan 'Pie Face' Goldhammer.

Get Creative With A Local Urban Planning Competition

How Would You Redevelop 260 Winter Street? Get creative and win some $$$ with this local urban planning competition.

Public Input for Virginia Street Corridor Project

RTC will be holding two upcoming community meetings to review and discuss plans to make Virginia Street in MidTown more pedestrian-friendly, and expand RAPID Transit north to UNR.

Siegel Weighing Two Options for Awnings at El Cortez

So the word on the street is Siegel Group is demolishing the current awnings over the retail businesses on the first floor, and is looking at two options moving forward.

I also can't wait to see what they come up with for window options, since the Historical Resources Commission recommended they come up with window replacements that have a bit more of a historical feel than 1970s style slider windows.

Photo Tour of 50 South Virginia

Check out a photo tour of the extremely cool 50 South Virginia Project, which is the former U.S. Post Office in downtown Reno on the river. Amazing plans are in place already, so check out the photos and read on!

A Day of Sneak Peeks Part 3: Plans for the Virginian

A Day of Sneak Peeks Part 3: Plans for the Virginian.

The Virginian is the long-closed hotel casino located on Virginia Street just north of City Hall and First Street, on the east side of Virginia Street. On the same day I was checking out Ross Apartments and the Shelter, Downtownmakeover fan Matt Orchowski went on a tour of the Virginian, snapped some photos, and learned some surprising facts about the building.

A Day of Sneak Peeks Part 2: Ross Apartments

A Day of Sneak Peeks Part 2: Ross Apartments. Check out Ross Manor's renovations of their 1 bedroom units, along with a name change to Ross Apartments.

Crop of New Businesses Coming

In the city council meeting agenda for next Wednesday, there are a crop of cool things in the pipeline. Here's a suite of businesses applying for licenses:

- Mellow Fellow - 300 East Second Street, Suite 104-Bar...This is located across the street from the Reno Aces Ballpark.
- Crafted Palette - 130 West Street - Cabaret - This will be a high-end coffee shop and sip-and-paint venue in the evenings where Beaujalais was formerly located, on West Street.
- Derby Supply Company - 123 West First Street, Suite B - Bar - This will be an old-fashion style barbershop where you can also grab a drink at the same time! Located in one of the Ross Apartments First Street retail spaces.
- Shelter, 111 North Virginia Street - Cabaret. This is a bowling alley/sports bar/night club featured here.
- Sierra Wellness - 1605 East 2nd Street, Suite 103 -  This will be a medical marijuana dispensary going in next to Opa Deli and Suzie's Adult Books, on 2nd Street across from Renown Hospital.

A Day of Sneak Peeks Part 1: The Shelter

I have a trio of sneak peaks for you today! Let's start with the Shelter, a new bar/entertainment venue downtown that will be opening to the public next Thursday, March 26.

Public Tours of 50 South Virginia on Sunday

Public tours are offered 10 am to 4 pm every 30 minutes on Sunday, March 22. A $20 donation will be collected at the door to support Renown Children’s Hospital.

New Venues Headed to 1st and West

A couple of quick announcements:

1)      The old Beaujolais location 130 West Street has been rented out to a new business called “Crafted Palette”. This will be a high-end specialty coffee shop with light breakfasts’ in addition to a paint and sip venue in the late afternoon and evenings. Like them on Facebook here.

2)      123 W. First Street (Old Bugsy’s Bar Location); one side has been leased  to a business called “Derby Supply Company”.  This will be a 1930’s style barbershop. They are offering cocktails while one might be getting a true straight razor shave and haircut. Look for build-out to begin late Spring, early Summer.

Virginian Offers Up Retail Space on Loopnet

The Virginian is looking for a few good retail and food venues for its ground-floor and basement levels of the upcoming Virginian renovation. Check out the cool photos of the Virginian, still frozen in time, posted on their ad. Amazing!