SHINY, CLEAN SOUTH RENO DOLLAR STORES FEATURE BARGAINS ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND MORE

Recently heard at a fitness class in Reno’s South Meadows area: “That new dollar store is really nice!  It’s a dollar store where I don’t have to fear for my life!”

I don’t think I’ve ever feared for my life while visiting a dollar store, yet I concur that J & J Dollar Store, which just opened in the Village at Double Diamond, 750 S. Meadows Pkwy., Suites 108-109 (next to Smith’s Food and Drugs) is more attractive than most.

Remember that scene in the movie “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” when down-on-her-luck Michele (Lisa Kudrow) got a job at a dismally dumpy dollar store in L.A.?

J & J Dollar isn’t a dump!  It’s bright, clean and well-organized.  And while no dollar store is going to qualify as a place to “see and be seen,” if you’re looking for bargains on school supplies, craft supplies or common household items, J & J could be a smart stop.

Note:  On my first trip to J & J, a sign on the door stated that debit and credit cards were not being accepted.  The cashier told me that this was a temporary situation.  She wasn’t sure when their card approval system would be functional, so until you know that the issue has been resolved, bring cash.

If that’s a problem — or if J & J doesn’t have what’s on your shopping list — another nice, clean dollar store is located just a few blocks away in South Reno: 

Dollar Tree at 9760 S. Virginia St., next to WinCo.

Happy hunting for dollar deals!

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FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES IN SOUTH RENO: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

After dining at Five Guys Burgers and Fries in South Reno this past weekend, I have crossed this idea off my family’s “to-do” list and renamed it a “to-don’t.”

Five Guys opened at 6395 S. McCarran Blvd. a bit earlier this summer.  Our first attempt at eating there fizzled out because it was too crowded.  This time around, the restaurant was busy but not to the point where every table was full.

As you enter Five Guys, you’ll notice big boxes of peanuts with little cardboard trays and scoopers so that you can help yourself.  This is a novel touch but somewhat surprising, due to the number of children and adults who have peanut allergies.  (Why would a fast food chain choose to alienate a sizable segment of its potential customer base?)

Instead of offering free peanuts, Five Guys would be wise to offer ear plugs.  Between the kitchen crew yelling orders, the music at high volume and kids screaming, this place is very noisy and therefore, not relaxing.  Tables are crammed close together, which doesn't help.

Of course, we weren’t expecting elegance.   It’s a fast food joint.  But would the burgers and fries at Five Guys be as good or better than at nearby fast food restaurants in South Reno?

“In a nutshell,” our answer was no.

The good news is that all toppings for your burger are free and include options such as mushrooms,  jalapeno peppers, A-1 Steak Sauce or hot sauce in addition to the more common ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce and so on.

The bad news is that burgers and fries at Five Guys are about what you’d get at a greasy spoon diner in the middle of nowhere. South Reno consumers are not a captive audience.  And the food at Five Guys is also overpriced for being so disappointing.

My Little Hamburger cost $4.09.  My guys ordered a Cheeseburger ($6.59) and a Bacon Cheeseburger ($7.59).  We also bought a Little Fry ($2.49) and two Regular Fries ($3.59 each).  All of the fries were dumped into a large paper bag and we couldn’t quite tell how the portions compared to one another; we just picked out a few gloppy fries at a time.  With a couple of fountain drinks, a bottled water and tax, our tab came up to $37.74.

Little Hamburger and fries at Five Guys

In-N-Out Burger, at 8215 S. Virginia St. in South Reno, has far superior burgers and fries and superior value, too.  The last time I went to In-N-Out with my husband and son, the bill was less than $20.

So it will be interesting to see if Five Guys continues to do brisk business in South Reno, when they’re no longer the new guys in town.  I know that my family won’t go back to Five Guys.

For information about Five Guys, visit http://www.fiveguys.com/ .

To learn more about In-N-Out Burger, visit http://www.in-n-out.com/ .

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HO-HUM PANCAKES AT HEIDI'S IN SOUTH RENO

UPDATE:  As of Spring 2014, this location of Heidi's Family Restaurant is now CLOSED.

This weekend, I finally got around to trying some pancakes at Heidi’s Family Restaurant, 189 Damonte Ranch Pkwy. in South Reno (near Walmart). 

It’s not like my family never goes out for breakfast.  But we’ve become really partial to the South Reno Squeeze In on Foothill Road, home of the “best omelettes on the planet," along with outstanding service and a lively atmosphere.  We also like Peg’s Glorified Ham n Eggs on South Meadows Parkway, which features marvelous Mexican skillet breakfasts.

Those restaurants serve pancakes, as well, but pancakes aren’t prominently featured on their menus.  Heidi’s seemed more like a place that might satisfy my yearning for the kind of pancakes I’ve always loved at the Original Pancake House, which started in Portland Oregon and has several locations in our former hometowns of Chicago and Seattle.  

Obviously, I don’t know the Original Pancake House’s secret recipe, but it makes the humble pancake into something worth going out for, as opposed to opening a box of Bisquick at home.

Off to Heidi’s we gallivanted.  From the parking lot, it doesn’t look like much.

Inside, Heidi’s is unexciting, too. It’s clean and quiet and resembles the weathered home of a little old lady with a weird collection of children’s books, toys and Alpine-inspired curios.

The whimsical (and very quiet) dining room at Heidi's

Pancake, French toast and waffle fans will find many choices on Heidi’s menu.  They serve egg combos and breakfast sandwiches, too.

My husband ordered Three Little Piggies in a Blanket, pancakes rolled around breakfast sausages.  He offered a bite to me; the sausage seemed a bit overcooked.

Three Little Piggies in Blankets at Heidi's

My son opted for a simple short stack of buttermilk pancakes.  Two types of syrup were offered with these: maple and boysenberry.

Buttermilk short stack at Heidi's

I requested a short stack with blueberries.  These were plain pancakes topped with fruit. Blueberries were not incorporated into the batter, as they might be at some restaurants. 

Heidi's short stock with blueberries

 

These pancakes were all right, but definitely nothing to yodel about.  Sorry to say it, yet  I think I actually prefer the inexpensive Bisquick pancakes that I can prepare at home.  (Pancake selections at Heidi's are in the $6-8 range and up, depending on what you order.)

Service at Heidi’s was fine, although it was a bit off-putting that the host seated parties in the booths directly on either side of us when the rest of the dining room was empty.  We were all positioned near a window and my companions joked that this was because the host wanted passersby to spot us and to think that the restaurant was busy.

Heidi’s also has locations in Carson City, Nevada and South Lake Tahoe, California.  For more information, visit http://heidisfamilyrestaurants.com/ .

In my honest opinion, however, if you're searching for exceptional breakfasts in the Reno-Tahoe area, check out Squeeze In or Peg's Glorified Ham n Eggs, both of which also have multiple locations.

Squeeze In: http://www.squeezein.com/

Peg's Glorified Ham n Eggs:  http://eatatpegs.com/

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PAUL MICHELS SHARES MEMORIES OF RENO POP/ROCK RADIO IN THE 1960s

Back on April 16, 2013, I published a blog post called CHICAGO’S WLS AND RENO’S KDOT RADIO IN THE 1960s.  In that post, I said that WLS-AM, one of America’s all-time most influential pop/rock radio stations, had a huge impact on my life and the lives of my friends when we were growing up in Chicago.  I added some anecdotes from longtime Reno radio personality Bob Carroll, who worked at KDOT-AM in the Biggest Little City during the same era.

About a week ago, I was delighted to be contacted by Paul Michels, a blog reader with strong ties to Reno and some insider info on the local radio scene in the 1960s.

Michels wrote in an e-mail, “I lived in various places in Northern California, but consider Susanville, which is 85 miles northwest to Reno, to be my ‘home town.’ As a child, we often went to Reno for shopping, doctors, etc. Then in 1965 I got a job working at a radio station (KCBN) and lived in Reno for about two years until I was drafted into the Army. Those were two very special years and I look upon Reno as my second home town.”

Here’s an image of Michels’ business card from KCBN.  Notice that Reno had a different area code then!

Michels continued, “KDOT was the predecessor to KCBN on the 1230 frequency and it was Reno’s first full-time top 40 station in 1959 when it was bought by Paul Schafer, an electronics guy who is considered the ‘father of radio automation.’  He had that station completely automated with reel-to-reel tape machines and the music played out from special-purpose Seeburg jukeboxes.  I remember going there one night in 1962 and taking a look at it. The station was on Commercial Row, near the Reno Arch.  It was one sight to behold … and one screwed up mess.  There was always something going wrong.  Schafer finally sold the station around 1963 when it had served his purpose as a test for his automation system.  For a while it became an ‘MOR’ [middle-of-the-road] station, but changed back to Top 40 in 1965 (without the automation) and that is when I went to work there.”

As shared by Michels, here’s an ad from when Reno’s KDOT was fully automated:

And here is a copy of a KCBN survey of pop and rock hits from the week of July 4, 1965, as provided by Michels.  You can see his name (spelled incorrectly) in the line-up of on-air personalities.  

Getting back to Michels’ comments, he said, “Bob Caroll, who you mentioned in your blog, once worked for KSUE in Susanville — the station where I started my radio career in 1962 — before getting a job in Reno.  In addition to KCBN, I worked for a time at KOLO 920-AM which in the early and mid-1960s was a very good ‘adult’ radio station.  No rock n’ roll!”

“Yes, WLS was a monster back in the day.  WCFL [a rival pop/rock station in Chicago] was great, too. They are both legendary AM top 40 radio stations,” Michels added.

Michels currently resides in Raleigh and is employed by Curtis Media Group, North Carolina’s largest independent owner of radio stations.  He said he still thinks of Reno and Northern California as “home” and tries to return to the region as often as possible. He attended his 50-year high school class reunion in Susanville last September.

Last but not least, Michels mentioned a couple of Facebook groups that may be of interest to those who lived in Reno in the 1960s or ‘70s or are curious about those decades in Reno.

They’re called “You are probably from Reno if …” and “You lived in Reno in the 60s and 70s if you remember …”.

“The latter was started by former KCBN DJ Phil Harvey who worked there around 1970. Lots of great pictures and stories on both these groups,” Michels remarked.

Sincere thanks to Paul Michels for sharing his knowledge and images from his Reno radio days in the 1960s.  Michels also sent me some interesting images of Reno’s historic movie houses, which I hope to use in a future blog post.

Also, here’s a fun “aircheck” clip from KCBN in the ‘70s, with the voice of Phil Harvey, snippets of vintage radio commercials, a groovy Lava Lamp and the intro to ABBA’s hit “Waterloo,” as found on YouTube: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynEOkDiSWhY .

Do you have stories to share about listening to pop/rock radio in Reno or Chicago in the 1960s or '70s?  I would love to hear from you.  Please e-mail me at maryd89521@gmail.com.

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FIVE GUYS BURGERS NOW SERVES SOUTH RENO ... BUT RED ROBIN SAVES THE DAY

There's no shortage of places to eat in South Reno, but when a new restaurant comes to town, a stampede ensues.  Five Guys Burgers, a chain that grew out of Arlington, Virginia, recently opened shop at 6395 S. McCarran Blvd.

About 2 p.m. this past Sunday, every table at Five Guys was full and the line to order food was nearly out the door.  Not wanting to eat in our car, my family decided to return to Five Guys a few weeks from now.  Maybe by then, the dust will have cleared.

It didn’t take long for us to come up with Plan B for lunch. Across the street, at 4999 Kietzke Ln., is the South Reno location of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.

Red Robin was founded in Seattle in 1969.  When my daughter attended University of Washington, we often dined at the original location at Furhrman Ave. E. and Eastlake Ave. E., near the University Bridge.

The building dated back to 1940 and was first known as Sam’s Tavern, then as Sam’s Red Robin (inspired by the tune “When the red, red robin comes bob, bob, bobbin’ along …”) and then simply as Red Robin.

That now-shuttered restaurant had a great view of Portage Bay, although the crazily sloped parking lot was a real problem when wet and slippery.  Even in ideal weather, when you opened your car door, you sort of fell sideways out of your car.  Adding to the funhouse atmosphere, the original Red Robin restaurant sported an image of the mascot holding something that resembled “weed.” This was long before the state of Washington legalized marijuana.  Who knew???

The menu and decor at the South Reno Red Robin are very similar to what you’d find at any current Red Robin location in the U.S. or Canada.

Unique to South Reno, however, are nods to Lake Tahoe and Virginia Street and a map of Nevada, with the Red Robin relishing regional activities such as skiing, rodeo-riding, Hot August Nights and The Great Reno Balloon Race.

Gourmet burgers and “bottomless” steak fries (unlimited refills on the fries and soft drinks) are the mainstays at Red Robin. 

We hardly need to look at our menus, as each person in my family has an old favorite: My husband loves the Guacamole Bacon Burger; my son is loyal to the Whiskey River BBQ Burger; I’m a fan of the Banzai Burger with pineapple and teriyaki sauce; and our daughter always asks for a Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Sandwich.  Oh, and you can order burgers at Red Robin with a turkey or veggie patty instead of beef or with a whole-grain bun. 

Other Red Robin sandwiches, including the Baja Turkey Club and  BLTA Croissant, are very good, too, as are the various salads.  My one-and-only Red Robin regret (back at the Seattle location) was ordering a salmon burger.  Ordinarily, seafood in Seattle is primo. But when a restaurant prides itself on its gourmet burgers, why mess with perfection?

Just as the food at Red Robin is consistently fresh and tasty, our servers at the South Reno location have always been pleasant and attentive.

How will Five Guys Burgers in South Reno measure up?  Checking it out is on our "to-do" list.

To view a Red Robin menu, or learn more about its history (as well as its focus on giving back to the community), visit http://www.redrobin.com/ .

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CLOTHES MENTOR AND PLATO'S CLOSET IN MIDTOWN RENO: CURRENT FASHIONS FOR LESS CASH

We’re about midway through summer and your clothes closet is probably pretty well-stocked for this season.  But if you’re like me — or most women, for that matter — you wouldn’t mind adding a few more things to wear if you could find cute, current fashions at hard-to-resist prices.

Right now,  Clothes Mentor, 1509 S. Virginia St. and Plato’s Closet, 1535 S.Virginia St., in Reno’s Midtown neighborhood, are offering secondhand but stylish summer clothing and accessories at a fraction of what you’ve pay for new.  And at the moment, their selections are likely more bountiful than what you’d find in most shops at the local malls, where summer clearance racks are “picked over.”

According to its Web site, Clothes Mentor is part of a chain of 85 stores located across 25 states that provides cash on the spot for attractive, gently used, ladies’ clothing and then resells it for someone else to enjoy.  Well-known brands are preferred and clothing must be fresh and in good condition — no rips or stains, no broken zippers or missing buttons.

Plato’s Closet has a similar business model, but sells clothing for both guys and girls in sizes and styles geared to teens and young adults.

On a quick visit this weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Clothes Mentor

is a clean, well-organized store with merchandise neatly grouped by style, size and color.

Clothes Mentor, Midtown Reno

Clothes Mentor, Midtown Reno

Prices here were rather remarkable.  I saw nice, name-brand tops for $5-10 and even fancy dresses for less than $20.  Fellow shoppers or browsers at Clothes Mentor seemed to range in age from 30s to 70s and the merchandise included both playful and work-appropriate items.  

At nearby Plato’s Closet, there was a line for the fitting rooms, but female and male customers of high school and college age appeared to be having a positive experience.

Plato's Closet, Midtown Reno

I’ve seen really mixed reviews on Yelp, for both the local Clothes Mentor and Plato’s Closet locations.  That’s typical of Yelp, of course.  Each person’s expectations are different and much depends on the date and time of their visit, since even the best-run businesses can have “off" days or stressed-out staffers.  

In a nutshell, when shopping at a secondhand clothing store, be humble and remind yourself, as one Yelper put it, that “it’s not Nordstrom."  Maybe you'll strike gold.  If not, don't sweat it and  just move on!

And if you're deliberately seeking clothing that’s not currently in style — that is, retro, Bohemian or Burning Man attire — venture farther north in Reno’s Midtown neighborhood, to the fun, funky Junkee Clothing Exchange, 960 S. Virginia St.

For information about Clothes Mentor and Plato's Closet in Midtown Reno, visit: http://www.clothesmentor.com/reno#   and  http://www.platoscloset.com/locations/list/nv .

To learn more about Junkee Clothing Exchange, visit: http://www.junkeeclothingexchange.com/ .

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