Casino chosen for C.O.D. Garage

Staff Reports



The owners of the C.O.D. Garage announced Thursday that the historic property will become a casino, bakery and ice-cream parlor.

Don, Marlena and Robb Hellwinkel have reached an agreement to lease the property to Dennis Small and Jeff Smeath, who are the owners of SlotWorld in Carson City.

The new business will be called the C.O.D. Casino.

The Hellwinkels presented their plans to a group of downtown Minden business owners Thursday morning.

"We've been working on this for months and months," Marlena Hellwinkel said. "We're very excited about it. The project will bring some more life and vitality to downtown Minden.

"We wanted the business owners to know what was going on, because obviously this affects them too."

According to information released Thursday, the historic appearance of the building will be maintained. Small and Smeath plan to invest more than $7 million in the building.

"The building's seismic integrity, a new roof, cleaning and reappointing of exterior and interior brick and a complete heating and air conditioning system are necessary to bring the historic complex to a useable condition," according to the Hellwinkel family.

Robb Hellwinkel said there are still some hurdles to clear before the lease can be finalized, including approvals from the Town of Minden and Douglas County commissioners. No timetable been announced.

"We have somebody who's willing to invest into the project, and in downtown Minden," he said. "We're not talking about the north county, but right here where we have the small retail."

Included in plans for the casino are a museum-type display showing the history of the garage and downtown Minden. Vintage autos, garage equipment and automotive memorabilia from the Hellwinkel family collection will be included.

According to the Hellwinkels, the planning for the project is consistent with the Minden Plan for Prosperity for downtown revitalization.

"The Hellwinkels, along with Small and Smeath intend to participate with the Town of Minden and Douglas County in the planning and construction of a downtown Minden parking garage," the family said. "The new uses for the C.O.D. property combined with the parking garage will create a synergy that will enhance present and future businesses downtown."

Small said he sees the C.O.D. Casino serving as an anchor for downtown Minden to attract patrons and shoppers to downtown businesses.

Work on the garage, founded in 1912 and named after Clarence Oliver Dangberg, brother to Minden founder H.F. Dangberg, should coincide with construction of the downtown parking garage planned by the county.

Fred Hellwinkel took over ownership of the business in 1938, when his partner Dangberg died. Fred's sons, Don and Danny Hellwinkel, joined the firm after serving in WWII. The V&T Railroad delivered automobiles to the garage until 1950.

Over the years, the business sold Buick, Chevrolet, AMC Jeep and Dodge vehicles, and Lauson tractors, as well as offering Goodyear products and AAA towing service. In December 2004, after Dan Hellwinkel died, the Hellwinkels sold the auto dealership and leased the building to Carson Valley Chevrolet Buick.

Carson Valley Chevrolet Buick has moved to a new service center building across Highway 395 from C.O.D. Garage, and the old brick building became available for lease.

The 22,500-square-foot structure, full of historic signs and memorabilia from the early 1900s, became vacant for the first time in April.