Visitreno

[BC Dave]

Something for all those smokin' avatars..

[john]

Hey Dave, put a little grass around those matchbooks and they'd look like tombstones.

[BC Dave]

Sounded like a bad idea but it turned out OK.



Good thing they're safety matches or Reno might have another fire.

[Zydeco]

To quote the kids..."OMG!".

Thanks for today's laugh.

[BC Dave]

Thanks for the compliment and you're welcome. If anybody out there has any matches from say - The Pioneer Inn, The Colonial, Horseshoe etc, I'll make arrangements for a plot.

[JD]

I suppose the condo projects that the Sundowner, Comstock and Flamingo Hilton turned into died even FASTER is not really important?

[BC Dave]

I certainly have heard of some problems with the Condo conversions but just assumed that things eventually worked out. Even the Flamingo's old tower hasn't worked out?

[JD]

Most of them have been plagued by low occupancy and those that were too far upside down, just tossed back the keys on the way out.

So the 1/4 of available units have a hard time keeping up the maintenance of the entire building. Let me see if I can find some updates:

---------------- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Montage_Reno

The Golden Phoenix's ambitions to rise above as a leading Downtown property never came to fruition and the hotel struggled from the onset. Beginning in 2004, a revolution spawning the country "condos" hit Reno and the fever to convert older, failing or closed hotel-casinos into condominiums tapped the Golden Phoenix. Chicago developer Fernando Leal was flown out to Reno to view the Golden Phoenix as a potential asset for future renovation, initially, he hated the building. But after repeat visits, was convinced and put a bid in to buy the ailing hotel. He would later win it and announce his plans to convert the property into "The Montage" following $170 million investment that would take the property down to its concrete support columns and rebuild based on the original platform.

Leal closed the hotel on December 6, 2005 and began gutting it in Spring 2006. The property's construction progressed even when the market would tank in 2007. The Montage was completed, much more ill conceived than presented in 2006, in April 2008. Originally, Leal envisioned The Montage as a flourishing condominium resort with a signed lease for Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and the other retail pad planned for the high profile Cafe Med. Both would fall out. And as a result, Leal would hand the completed project back to its lender to avert a foreclosure disaster, in December 2008.

The Montage is now owned by Chicago based ST Residential, a subsidiary of Starwood Assets and Holdings. A global company. The property is still marketed as a condominium resort with Reno's most exclusive condo amenities such as a 24 hour doorman, resort style pool deck, owners lounge and top grade finishes.

[BC Dave]

Thanks for the info JD. I visited the website for "The Montage" and it looks nice. Actually so does the "Belvedere". I don't even know what the name for the old Comstock is. But I wouldn't buy at any of these joints without a REAL good look. Oh Hell, I'm not exactly looking to buy in Reno anyway. The Palliadio would be the place to shack up I guess.

[JD]

Comstock (200 West Second Street) is called, "Residence at RIVERWALK" and is only 1/4 occupied. BUT in the summer, the Polish (and Eastern Bloc ) students gang up and temporarily rent 4 to a room and at least USED to work the casinos.

http://reno.craigslist.org/apa/3055408917.html

"Next door to the elegant and charming "El Cortez"

And Zillow has a few that show a slight loss of value:
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/200-W-2nd-St-APT-413-Reno-NV-89501/69457427_zpid/
Unit # 413 sold 2006 for $ 116,500. Sold Nov.2011 $ 23,500 (small)

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/200-W-2nd-St-APT-1602-Reno-NV-89501/69457486_zpid/
Unit # 1602 sold 2006 for $ 700,000 Zestimate value: $ 125,200
(But it IS a big one...top floor penthouse w/ 1600 ft2)

[BC Dave]

Thanks for the research JD. Think I'll just stay at the Sands. A few years back I saw their rooms going for $8 a night.- (Midweek off season of course). Maybe if I'm ever hard up for a roof over my head I can make a long term deal with them. No property tax, no maintenance fee and maid service and the casino is open.

Got any old matches for my cemetary?

[JD]

Ya... but I am digital photo disabled.

maybe next trip i'll let John take & post pics...

I have the same "Mapes" but on the reverse, says, "Money Tree"

And a "Harold's Club or Bust with the miner holding a bear's tail"

"King of Clubs, 1324 B Street Sparks"
"Silver Club"
OLD Harrah's
Old Boomtown

[BC Dave]

Sounds good JD, thanks! I think my Mapes matches have the Money Tree on the other side too. I took those pics some quite some time ago and then stashed the matches away. I forgot to tell Janice where I was putting them and she's the one with the functioning memory.

[Mammothgambler]

Cool submissions everyone, and hey, I found one more! Just relocated my ole' one arm bandit Pachislo, The Surftrip, up to my apartment as there's massive renovations going on downstairs. I forgot that a few months before Fitzgerald's closed, I scored a couple of coin cups from the penny and nickel area right by the entrance that I'm now using with my machine. I got the biggest kick out of their upside-down slogan: "Turn Me Over and Fill Me Up... Let me Be Your Lucky Cup!"

Mammothgambler

[JSR1968]