From nothing to standing in 7 days

Commuters on Highway 395 through Minden might have seen an almost empty lot on the way to work Dec. 20 and an almost completed building on the way home.

A new Arby's roast beef restaurant is going up next to Arco AM-PM Mini-Market in Minden and the construction process could take less than a week.

"The modular pre-fab building came in pieces last week and was unloaded in one day," said Daryl Reedy, co-owner with Dennis McDuffee of the Gardnerville and Carson City Arby's stores.

"They bring in a crane and pop it up in no time," Reedy said.

Construction began Dec. 20 but Reedy anticipates an April 1 opening for the Minden Arby's.

"We'll be doing some turn lane construction that can't be done right now because of cold weather," he said. "For paving, the weather has to warm up."

Chris Browning is the project manager for JPB Commercial Contractors, the company building the shopping center. He said that the weather was cooperating Tuesday for his six-man crew.

"All the exterior work will be done today. We'll be landing trusses by afternoon," Browning said.

"The building comes panelized, already pre-built. It usually takes two days to put together. We'll be roofing on the third day."

Browning said that Fullerton Building Systems of Worthington, Minn. sent a representative to make sure the pre-fab building components went together correctly.

"Wade (Hieronimus) is the tech. The company makes sure he knows his product," said Browning. "We're basically assembling his puzzle.

"The walls go up, then the roofing's done. It comes with the stucco already on. Plumbing, electric and storefront windows happen congruently, just a week later," he said. "It usually takes two to three months to get to this point. Because I bought it as a panel product, it takes weeks off the project."

The Arby's store is just the first of what's to come in the new shopping center.

"Long's Drugs will anchor the front of the site. The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) signed a 20-year lease, another Starbucks will be right across from the high school. Applebee's, Autozone and a couple others have shown interest," Browning said.

Reedy said that Raley's bought them out of their lease on the Gardnerville property and will probably use it for future expansion.

The Gardnerville Arby's will be open until the new business opens in Minden.

The staff will transfer to the new store.