Planning Commission approves special permits for Lucky Spur

Carson business owners of a new sports-themed brew pub and entertainment club to be built inside the vacant Lucky Spur in downtown easily won approval Wednesday from city planning commissioners to operate the facility.

The special-use permits obtained by a unanimous vote from commissioners will allow outdoor patio dining, unlimited gaming and use of the existing signs for the new business to be named Stew's Sportatorium at the Lucky Spur.

Stew's Corp. partners Michael Stewart and Scott Johnson are leasing the building from owner George Halyak. The partners have full control of the renovation and hope to have construction completed by the end of October, in time for Nevada Day.

Commissioners quickly and easily approved the permits.

"Good luck and thank you for doing it," said Commission Chairman Richard Wipfli.

Demolition workers have already been busy clearing out the inside of the building that had been vacant since the 1970s.

A mural that was uncovered recently during the demolition work is said to depict past owner Tommy Pardini who operated Tommy's Victory Club in the building for 25 years until selling it in 1955.

His son, Victor, said he thinks the hand-painting shows his father in a train car with his brother-in-law Ciro Giurlani. The mural that was uncovered beneath weathered wallpaper shows only one man inside a Virginia & Truckee Railroad car but a portion of the painting is worn away.

Workers have also found evidence of another, older hand-drawn painting with a train theme beneath the train picture.

Stewart said he hopes the painting of the V&T train can be kept or restored, but if not, he might find a way to have it repainted.

The train mural is also covered with hand-scribed notes in pen, pencil and scratched out lettering. The words tell stories of past loves in the early 1960s or signatures of notables who visited the popular spot for gaming or to grab a bite to eat.

Before it was the Lucky Spur, the property was the Silver Spur.

Stew's Sportatorium is planned to be a sports casino and micro-brewery with outdoor patio seating facing Curry Street. The new business will fit in to the historic downtown business community, the new operators said.

"We have the local community 100 percent at heart," Johnson said.