Improvements at Joe's

Things are really changing at our local store and watering hole. For Joe Scalise, owner of Nevada Trading Company and Topaz Joe's Grill and Bar on the corner of Albite and Carter Way in Topaz Ranch Estates, receiving his unrestricted gaming license means some changes can finally take place.

Customers have requested card games be allowed at Topaz Joe's but as long as Scalise had a restricted license, he couldn't allow card games in his establishment. Now he has plans for a table and as soon as his logoed gaming chips arrive, Texas Hold 'em will be available for those who want to play. He can also add more machines for people to play.

As TRE and surrounding areas are growing, more and more people congregate at Topaz Joe's in the evenings and it is getting hard to find a place to sit sometimes. It's a congenial place with friendly people who make their customers feel right at home.

Scalise has spent most of his life associated in one way or the other with the gaming worlds of Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe.

Scalise was born in Los Angeles in 1941 but moved to Las Vegas in 1954. His father was a musician, playing for entertainers like Dean Martin. His mother was a singer, her stage name was Janie Mack.

Scalise's first job was a pool boy at the Sands, but he soon graduated from bartending school and became a bar boy. He ran the service bar in the Copa Showroom and was also in charge of setting up the bar cart for the famous "Rat Pack."

In 1972, Scalise moved to Lake Tahoe and while working for the Sahara he became bar manager in 1979. He built Kingsbury Lanes on Kingsbury Grade in 1980 and in 1984 he purchased the property he still owns overlooking Topaz Lake. First called Topaz Liquor Mart, Scalise is now leasing the property to Pete Karkos who has changed it to a fun restaurant called the Iron Horse offering awesome hamburgers, among other things, with indoor and outdoor dining.

It wasn't an easy job for Scalise to obtain his unrestricted gaming license. The first time he applied for it he was turned down but his second try paid off.

"So many people helped me out," Scalise said, "and I really want to thank them.

"Sheriff Ron Pierini really stepped up to the plate for me and provided a great reference and recommendations. Ron and I go back a long way, back to my days of Kingsbury Lanes when he was just a deputy. He knows the kind of business I run."

Scalise thanked the planning commission, Douglas County Manager Dan Holler, the gaming commission and his employees too.

"I also have to thank all the wonderful people I have working for me, especially Liz Sloan who helped me get through the mountains of paperwork and great record keeping needed to apply for the license, I could not have done all this without her," Scalise said. "I also have to thank Susanne McLaughlin, ever since she has taken over the deli, business (food sales) has tripled."

Store hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and bar hours are 11 a.m. to whenever the crowd goes home.

-- The Topaz Sagehens 31st annual rummage sale will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 5 and 8 a.m. to noon May 6 at the Topaz Ranch Estates Community Park Building. Proceeds from this event help fund community charities and civic organizations including Douglas High School Scholarship Fund. Information, Janice Roberts, 266-1076.

-- The Topaz Community Open Bible Church will be having their annual rummage sale to raise money for the church building fund on May 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot next to the Topaz Ranch Estates Community Park Building where their future church will be built. Information contact Nanci Carter 266-0020 or Donna West 266-4129.

Until next week, just keep on keepin' on.

-- Jonni Hill can be reached through The Record-Courier at jhill@recordcourier.com or by calling 782-5121, ext. 213, or after hours at JHILL47@aol.com