The Primadonna Casino looks like it was a pretty colorful place (click to enlarge)! It was located on North Virginia, directly across the alley from what became the Fitz and now CommRow. when the Golden Phoenix took over, the facade was renovated and the sort of cool stuff behind it was revealed.
Now the Golden Phoenix neon crest has been removed and more of the original facade is visible. 
Fernando Leal inherited this property as part of the Montage project. I wonder why now for the demolition of the Golden Phoenix neon masterpiece? Developers don’t just spend money for the fun of it. More developement on the way?
CommRow is set to have it’s grand opening next Saturday on 1 October. Their Web Site should go live momentarily. Their “soft opening” was delayed as construction took a little longer than expected. I saw the final life safety testing and inspections going on Thursday evening, so the project should start coming to life this week. I’m tall enough to peek over construction fences and nosy enough to peer into open doors – the elements I’m seeing look pretty cool. What the gestalt will be is yet to be experienced. The soft opening is “closed” to the public, but don’t be surprised if you could wander in Thursday or Friday for a sneak peak.
Disco is open and rocking! That would be the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum. Downtown Dude took his nieces there this weekend, and has a very cool pictorial of the visit. If we do another RRB meet and greet, can we do it in the Cloud Climber?
Interesting Planning hearing coming up for Sierra Canyon. Seems they want to reduce the minimum rear yard setback from 15′ to 10′ for both the existing homes and Sierra Canyon II. The staff reports and comments won’t be posted until 1 October in front of the 3 October hearing, but this seems to be about not moving buildings closer to the lot lines, but allowing shade structures to encroach into the setback. Still, bound to be controversial up at the Raisin Ranch.
I need to give kudos to a new real estate search site I’ve come across. I’m a huge fan of Mitch Argon for new listings and reduced listings. Sonic is cool for including multi-family units. But Reed Minton’s new site rocks them all. Search for REOs or short sales only. Foreclosures by date. Sold properties by area for comps. The best mapping interface I have ever come across. Incredible flexibility on search options and the ability to save (and delete) your searches. I am still exploring this site interface, but I’m pretty impressed. What do y’all think about it?
Guy Johnson
Mike,
The Nevada Discovery Museum rocks! We took our kids there today. They had a blast! The place was hoppin’. What a great addition to downtown Reno.
The $85 year-long family membership plan seemed to be quite popular. The lines were long with parents signing up – and kids eagerly awaiting to enter to fun. [My wife and I were in that line. I believe admission is $8pp otherwise.] I saw a birthday party being hosted there already. And apparently they allow you to bring in your own lunch.
The whole thing is very well done. Kudos to all those involved.
Later I walked down Virgina Avenue to check out Street Vibrations. I peeked around CommRow myself. Took a few pictures of the climbing wall; and explained to puzzled passer-bys what the heck it was. People on the street seemed amazed by it.
Guy Johnson
Oh btw, Mike, thank you for getting the Reno Realty Blog mentioned in the RGJ today. I’m sure you read the piece, “Spike in default notices raises more questions”. I would’ve linked to it, but the story had a big “Only In Print: Special Report” tag on it.
Nice quotes as well, Mike.
Reno Ignoramus
Mike,
Where in the world did you get that picture of the Primm? That one must go back to the 1960s when you could get a soup and sandwich for 60 cents. Downtown Reno still had much of its lustre back then. I believe that picture was probably taken while Ernie Primm still owned the place. Before it was sold to the Flamingo Hilton.
GratefulD_420
Mike –
Thanks for the head’s up on Reed Minton’s website… but not as functional as Mitch’s.
On Mitch’s site you can:
1. Search by MLS (community) area (extremely useful!)
2. Save your searches
3. Search by Price Reduced (know who is willing to get to the right price!)
4. Search by any parameter of REO, Short Sale, Pending, etc.
5. By Map
6. Search by address, street, MLS#
Mitch’s site rocks! and he is local.
Pro Reno DJs
Wow, that is very cool. I love learning about Reno’s history. I was born and raised here and first identified that building as the pink flamingo.
oldjohnny
Nando sure enjoys destroying the things I like. The Primadonna turned Golden Pheonix annex was another spot I enjoyed gambling, of course Nando needed to convert it into some other doofus idea of his.
I miss the neon and twinkle lights downtown used to have.
Great pic of the Primadonna BTW!
Rory
oldjohnny, are you high? Even looking at a half empty montage sure beats gazing upon a blighted golden phoenix casino any day of the week.
Mike McGonagle
If you like learning about the history of the old casinos. http://www.oldreno.net is a fun resource with lots of pictures. It hasn’t been updated in a couple years, but the site sure doesn’t show Fernando any love. Or just Google Image search – there is actually a pretty interesting building under the Cal Neva’s “Bonanza Sirloin Pit” red tile facade. And the Horseshoe Club used to have an even more interesting look to it.
Guy Johnson
Mike, Here is the link to the RGJ piece I mentioned in my comment at the top: Special report: Spike in Washoe County default notices raises eyebrows
midTN
FWIW:….
A native of CA here and frequent visitor to old Reno who remembers well the colorful and gaudy Primadonna when Ernie Primm owned it…..and those amazing giant show girls out front. The center figure turned from side to side while standing on the world globe. The photo shown here is from the mid 1960’s and I have several period postcards with that same image. Also have in my collections the great half round menus, china, a 25 cent slot, and tons of paper advertising from the Primadonna. My family had many breakfast specials there and I won my first Keno there…25 bucks in 1968!
I am currently in the process of restoring one of the twin MAPES neon name signs which had graced the marquee of the Mapes Hotel since 1949, 2 years afeter it was built, and which I purchased about 9 years ago. There was one on each side of the SKY ROOM neon signage. My sign faced Virginia St.
Reno’s mid-20th century history was very unique, and I think the “Biggest Little City In The World” has made a huge mistake letting so much of it vanish. Reno was a neon and advertising treasure trove.
Just my opinion.