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The small Flamingo/Golden Phoenix frontage on Virginia
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JD



Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 956

PostPosted: Oct Thu 24, 2013 9:38 am    Post subject: The small Flamingo/Golden Phoenix frontage on Virginia Reply with quote

Does anyone remember the small casino on the West side of Virginia Street that the Flamingo Hilton (later, the Golden Phoenix) had that fronted on Virginia Street?

It was just North of the Nugget and had the same kind of skinny but deep floor plan. I think it had an escalator to a sky bridge over Sierra Street to give the appearance it was part of the big casino to the West.

Well guess who just bought it?

MR. CAL NEVA, Jeff Siri is making some kind of move and is trying to keep the gaming license open there. I know the front LOOKS like the pawn shop on the East side of Virginia, but without that huge neon sign over the door, it looks quite different. Maybe someone better with photos can post a pic of what it USED to look like.

Maybe they will have room for a bank of Blazing Sevens or Rams....

From the Reno Gazette Journal:
http://www.rgj.com/article/20131024/BIZ04/310240037/Siri-s-Casino-gets-first-nod-toward-opening-downtown-Reno
------------------

Reno gaming veteran Jeff Siri’s plans for a slots-only casino in downtown Reno proceeded Wednesday with Reno City Council approval of liquor and gaming licenses at the vacant site on Virginia Street across from Harrah’s.

Siri, sole shareholder of the Club Cal Neva at Virginia and Second streets to the south, said his next step is state regulatory approval in November for a 16-slot operation, under the name Siri’s Casino, which he would then open briefly by year’s end to keep gaming rights on the property active.

Then, he said, he will close it for extensive renovations and reopen in the second quarter of 2014 with 150 slots, a bar and food offerings in the 7,500-square-foot casino at 241 N. Virginia St.
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BC Dave
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Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 1592

PostPosted: Oct Fri 25, 2013 5:56 pm    Post subject: Flamingo pics Reply with quote

Remember it well. Had a few drinks at the Flamingo's Virginia Street Bar on the right side as you came in from Virginia St. The smallish casino was even called "Paco's" for a short while. And then it was gone. ...... Then the mighty Golden Phoenix rose from the ashes! Oh well, I suspected that that was just a myth.

Thanks to Nevadamax.com, here's a couple of pics from the glory days.

http://www.nevadamax.com/page7/flam1.html

http://www.nevadamax.com/page7/flam6.html

Good luck to Mr. Siri! Cal Neva to the rescue!

I guess the new management won't honor this huh?
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Zydeco



Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 302

PostPosted: Oct Sat 26, 2013 4:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ahh, the Golden Phoenix. The scene of many a good evening. Love that I can still see it as the backdrop of the movie, "The Cooler".
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BC Dave
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Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 1592

PostPosted: Oct Sat 26, 2013 7:08 pm    Post subject: How it all started Reply with quote

Can't resist posting these. I think I've linked to these before. But they are worthy of repetition.

Politically correct? In the 1950's? What's that?

http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/40332/primadonna_reno_sm.jpg

http://www.oldreno.net/images/primadonna.jpg

I'd kinda like to see Mr. Siri put these signs back up. That'd get Reno some attention!

"The Primadonna Casino" was open from 1955 to 1978. Info from NevadaMax - Thanks!
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JD



Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 956

PostPosted: Oct Sat 26, 2013 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The "Ground Cow"? I remember the Prima Donna, Money Tree, Hill's Brothers' Motor Lodge, Shy Clown, Eddie's Fabulous Fifties, Nevada Club, Onslow, Mapes & Harold's Club.

But "The Ground Cow"? Too funny.

Hold on to that Flamingo coupon. I sold an Eddie's Fabulous Fifties $ 5 chip for $ 20.
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BC Dave
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Joined: 18 Dec 2005
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PostPosted: Oct Sat 26, 2013 9:05 pm    Post subject: Ground Cow Reply with quote

I never saw the Ground Cow but I was in it's reincarnation as "Arch Discount Liquors" from time to time. Even it closed a few years ago.

From my 1985 trip.

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JD



Joined: 18 Dec 2005
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PostPosted: Oct Sat 26, 2013 10:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, Dave. I could not figure out what the Ground Cow was recently.

Between the Ground Cow and the Awful Offal....

Oh... I forgot Dick Clark's American Bandstand that had the same music loop blasting 24/7 in front of the Nevada Club. And the escalator that took you upstairs to the 100% coin drop three reel slots and Kilroy's Coffee Shop.
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Mammothgambler



Joined: 25 Dec 2005
Posts: 619

PostPosted: Oct Sat 26, 2013 10:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's awesome, thanks for the old pics everyone!

The article says 16 slots - I wonder which 16 they will be? Rams? (Hint, hint, Mr. Siri, RAMS?) I think it will be a good thing. That particular location is prime, but has sat in complete darkness these past months (and complete shade during the day).

Mammothgambler
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BC Dave
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PostPosted: Dec Tue 17, 2013 10:04 pm    Post subject: Anything happening? Reply with quote

According to that RGJ article, Mr. Siri planned to open the casino temporarily before the end of the year to keep the gaming license active. Anybody seen or heard anything?
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Mammothgambler



Joined: 25 Dec 2005
Posts: 619

PostPosted: Dec Wed 18, 2013 8:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, I was wondering what the outcome was myself...the last time I saw something on the RGJ website, they were mentioning that it could be open for as little as only one day?

Somebody please go downtown and take a few spins on the Rams and Blazing Sevens for me. Experiencing spin withdrawal on a very broad level as I sit here in the cotton, tobacco, and cornfields of North Carolina! Sad

Mammothgambler
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JSR1968



Joined: 18 Jan 2011
Posts: 65

PostPosted: Dec Wed 18, 2013 8:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My wife and I used to play VP there all the time when it was the Flamingo. She hit one of her RF there.
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remano



Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 717

PostPosted: Dec Wed 18, 2013 5:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I haven't seen an exact date but the announcement was that they would open for 8 hours during one day the week before Christmas, which is just about now. They will have 16 machines and two attendants all borrowed from the Club Cal Neva. No mention of any food or drink service. I walked by there at lunch time today and there was no activity, not even a sign in the window saying when they would be open. It's just a formality to keep the license active.

When they re-open next Spring Siri is promising impressive improvements, both inside and out. The word is that the place will feature a Tropical theme, with just slots to begin with but the possibility of table games later on. They are expecting consistent drop ins from the regular traffic along Virginia Street, but Siri says they will put special emphasis on attracting a younger, later-night crowd, including concert goers leaving the nearby Knitting Factory and the Cargo venue at Whitney Peak next door.

Speaking of Whitney Peak, they suffered another setback a week or so ago when a water pipe burst, flooding the inside climbing area. The climbing surfaces are said to be OK because they were treated wood, but the floor was covered with a special shock absorbing material that turned into a giant sponge. They were planning to close the climbing area for a short while to accommodate remodeling, but now with this damage it will be closed altogether until the hotel opens "sometime next Spring."
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BC Dave
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Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 1592

PostPosted: Dec Thu 19, 2013 12:06 am    Post subject: Thanks Remano! Reply with quote

Thanks a lot Remano. I feel a lot more up to date.
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Wolfdog



Joined: 13 Dec 2013
Posts: 43

PostPosted: Dec Tue 24, 2013 12:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

remano wrote:
I haven't seen an exact date but the announcement was that they would open for 8 hours during one day the week before Christmas, which is just about now. They will have 16 machines and two attendants all borrowed from the Club Cal Neva. No mention of any food or drink service. I walked by there at lunch time today and there was no activity, not even a sign in the window saying when they would be open. It's just a formality to keep the license active.

When they re-open next Spring Siri is promising impressive improvements, both inside and out. The word is that the place will feature a Tropical theme, with just slots to begin with but the possibility of table games later on. They are expecting consistent drop ins from the regular traffic along Virginia Street, but Siri says they will put special emphasis on attracting a younger, later-night crowd, including concert goers leaving the nearby Knitting Factory and the Cargo venue at Whitney Peak next door.

Speaking of Whitney Peak, they suffered another setback a week or so ago when a water pipe burst, flooding the inside climbing area. The climbing surfaces are said to be OK because they were treated wood, but the floor was covered with a special shock absorbing material that turned into a giant sponge. They were planning to close the climbing area for a short while to accommodate remodeling, but now with this damage it will be closed altogether until the hotel opens "sometime next Spring."

That explains the massive ventilation machines during the early hours, last week. I wonder what their plan is to compete with their neighbors, room-wise. Lots of folks get comped rooms.
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Wolfdog



Joined: 13 Dec 2013
Posts: 43

PostPosted: Dec Tue 24, 2013 12:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

JSR1968 wrote:
My wife and I used to play VP there all the time when it was the Flamingo. She hit one of her RF there.

I still have a never-used clear pink coffee mug, with their name on it. I should put it on ebay.
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