C.O.D. Casino gets final nod from county

The C.O.D. Casino cleared its final hurdle Thursday, and owner Scott Tate said he has faith in the project despite dissenting Commissioner David Brady's assertion gambling is on the decline and the plan is a "quick fix."

The board voted 4-1 to grant the final zoning map amendments to convert the 97-year-old former automotive garage in downtown Minden to a 14,303-square-foot casino, bakery and museum.

Tate said Friday he hopes construction will begin in six to nine months.

"Our architect and engineers are going to meet with the county engineering and building departments and start the process. It will take six to nine months to draw it and another year to build it," he said.

Tate has said the project is a $5 million to $7 million investment, and he hopes to employ 50 to 75 people.

"The elements of the project are still in play. Paul Schat is still interested in the bakery and we're still proposing the auto museum. The only question is the day spa. We're not sure that's going to happen. We feel it might hurt some of the players in the local community," Tate said.

He took issue with Brady's comments Thursday.

"There is no doubt we face challenging times, but the mantra has been 'Any development is good development.' We continue to emphasize gaming," Brady said.

He said he feared gamblers would go from Sharkey's to Carson Valley Inn to the C.O.D. Casino, splitting the economic pie rather than boosting the economy.

Brady was absent from the May 1 meeting when the project received overwhelming support from the board and the audience.

"I don't want this to look like downtown Carson City " casino after casino after casino," Brady said.

Tate said Friday he was "hurt, disappointed and confused" by Brady's comments.

"I was very disappointed Mr. Brady didn't support our project," he said. "I could prove him wrong six ways to Sunday."

Tate said he was confident in gaming.

"Gaming is a $12.5 billion industry," Tate said. "Any little blip gets exaggerated. That's what we've been doing since 1934 when we needed to do something to drive the state out of the Depression.

"I'm from Mississippi. It's the fourth largest gaming jurisdiction in the country. I know what it's done for the schools and the infrastructure through the state."

Tate said his philosophy is to tell the truth and do things right.

"I'm an accountant by trade. I am the one to sign on the line for all these loans. My wife has to go with me. I have a 7-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son. This is called a risk and it is personal. My business is personal. It's me and I like it that way. It helps me make better decisions and it's the most rewarding thing in life," he said.

Tate said he was willing to spend the extra money it costs to retrofit the C.O.D. Garage rather than tear it down because that's what the community wants.

"This building has been part of three or four generations, that's why we kept the C.O.D. Casino name. It goes right back to the roots of who founded Minden," he said. "I think it's important to retain that identity."

He referred to Fred "Brick" Hellwinkel and his sons Don and Dan who were associated with Clarence O. Dangberg's C.O.D. Garage from its opening in 1911.

The garage expanded to cover almost an entire block on Esmeralda Avenue and has been vacant since 2003.

The C.O.D. Garage was one of the oldest operating commercial garages in the United States. The garage also holds the record for the oldest AAA touring service in Nevada and one of the oldest Chevrolet and Buick franchises in the United States.

Don Hellwinkel's widow Marlena and son Robb partnered with Tate to develop the project.

Marlena Hellwinkel thanked the community for its support at the commission Thursday.

"'Hellwinkel' means bright corner and it's time Minden gets a bright corner," she said.