In my last blog post (Nov. 28, 2012 —SHOPPERS SQUARE: A REMNANT OF SOUTH RENO'S PAST), I explored the quaint Shoppers Square at South Virginia Street and East Plumb Lane. It was startling to think that this area was once considered "South Reno" and that this had been a major shopping center before the days of Meadowood Mall and The Summit.
And I also began to wonder whether downtown Reno had ever had a traditional shopping area.
Some quick detective work gave me the answer to my question. A Wikipedia article about Circus Circus Reno stated that it is located at the site of the former Gray Reid's department store.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Circus_Reno
Next, I tracked down a Reno Gazette-Journal (RGJ) story from 2006, which confirmed that Gray Reid's opened in the early 1900s at 237 N. Virginia St. and was a downtown shopping fixture until 1977, when it moved to The Old Town Mall, presently known as Reno Town Mall.
http://www.rgj.com/article/20060312/NEWS10/603120336/From-Gray-Reid-s-Summit-Sierra-100-years-department-stores-Reno
According to the RGJ, a J.C. Penney store was located at the corner of First and Sierra Streets in downtown Reno, until it closed in 1991. A number of other clothing stores flourished in downtown Reno in the 1950s and '60s, as well. How refreshing that must have been — and what a far cry from Reno's current-day, depressing downtown.
So ... now I have also realized that Reno Town Mall, on South Virginia Street at Peckham Lane, was apparently a "big-shot" mall in the 1970s.
It's across the street from the Reno-Sparks Convention Center and Atlantis Resort Hotel and Casino.
From the street, Reno Town Mall resembles any strip mall, anchored by Burlington Coat Factory and Food Source (formerly Raley's). But there is actually an enclosed part of the mall sandwiched between those large stores.
The interior of Reno Town Mall is clean and pleasant enough, with a true "mixed-use" line-up of tenants. There's a shoe store, a store that sells dance wear, a nail salon, a store that sells Chinese art (and posters of Marilyn Monroe?).
As well, there's a bridal shop, a computer learning center, a radio station, the offices of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority and the Sierra View Library branch of the Washoe County Library System.
I still look forward to combing through materials at the Nevada Historical Society, hoping to find photos and facts about Gray Reid's department store and other retail favorites from Reno's bygone decades.
Not long ago (Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012), the RGJ ran columns from City Council candidates, stating their priorities, if elected. Candidate David Ward's column was headlined, "Cleaner downtown would boost tourism." Ward started out by saying, "I grew up here, met my wife here, and together we raised our kids here." Thus, his comments were coming from the heart of a native Renoite, not from a newcomer like me.
Ward remarked, "Even though the city has very limited discretionary funding, there are critical steps we can take to improve our physical image, starting with downtown. First impressions are lasting and have an enormous impact. It won't break the bank to make our streets and sidewalks cleaner, to add landscaping and lighting and to place attractive murals inside the glass fronts of vacant buildings."
Ward added, "We need to connect folks who are homeless, addicted or suffering with mental issues with the services they need and we need to seriously discourage panhandling. A cleaner, safer, more attractive downtown will boost both tourism and economic development."
Although Ward was not elected to the Reno City Council, I think we can all agree that first impressions do have great impact. And it's pretty glaring that downtown Reno lacks a classy department store, which, in most big cities, is a source of hometown pride and an exciting reason to go downtown.
The Biggest Little City in the World should be striving to make its downtown cleaner, safer and more inviting to both locals and tourists. And in my opinion, the Reno Aces Ballpark should not be the focus while trying to achieve that goal. High-quality shopping and cultural amenities would appeal to a broader range of residents and visitors.
Notice that Sunset magazine, dedicated to life in the West, continually ignores Reno and tells Northern Nevadans to go to San Francisco or Portland for fine shopping, dining and entertainment.
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