Facelift planned for Gardnerville store

The proposed renovation of the Raley's Superstore and neighboring stores to the east received an enthusiastic nod from members of the Gardnerville Town Board Tuesday.

"This proposal comes at a time when we're trying to make changes," said Randy Slater, board chairman. "We really appreciate it."

Plans include new landscaping, a 6,000-square-foot expansion complete with coffee shop and fast-food amenities, parking modifications and a new facade consistent with architecture in old downtown Gardnerville. Expansion in the back, primarily for administration is also in the plans, according to Raley's officials.

"Not many stores will look like this one. Raley's designs are specific to the cities and the neighborhoods they're in," said Architect Scott Pullen. "You have great architecture right down the street. That's how we came up with this design."

The project, which will take an estimated six to eight months to complete, should start in early 2008, according to Mike Gates, design manager for Raley's.

"We're planning face brick on the top to look like some of the older buildings in town, with wrought iron covering over the windows and extended plantings on the side," he said.

The expansion will be built quickly, but the interior redesign will take more time. Merchandise will be shifted around to keep the store open and stocked while the work is done at night, Gates said.

Gardnerville Town Board members also unanimously approved a plan to renovate the facade for the adjacent shops in the mall, located just off Highway 395 in south Gardnerville.

The shops, with the exception of Raley's Superstores, were purchased about 18 months ago by developer Darren Dickerhoof of Corvallis, Ore. The company has been working with Raley's and Gardnerville officials on the project, said designer Gene Dickerhoof.

"We locate properties that need attention and update them," Dickerhoof said. "That's been our specialty for several years. We've been working with Raley's for over a year on this project and it's all coming together."

The footprint of those shops will remain, but the company is trying to give tenants more identity with a new look across the front, Dickerhoof said.

"The goal is to have the buildings look as if they have a related theme but not exactly the same," Dickerhoof said. "We'll be using complementary color schemes and the higher towers will be close to the (Raley's) brick color. It's the perfect site for mom and pop stores and other small businesses."

The mansard detail will be gone, the front articulated with different materials and colors in a neutral soft palate for definition, Town Manager Jim Park said.

"We're thrilled to have projects like this coming forward," he said.

This is one of about a half-dozen projects designed under the auspices of Gardnerville's newly-minted Plan for Prosperity, a template designed to help the town define the community's expectations. Developers have praised the document, saying it has made their job easier, Park said.

"Developers didn't have to spend a lot of time in redoing their design, so it's helped the development community," Park said.

• Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.