Tribe breaks ground on smoke shop off South Sunridge

The construction site passersby can see along South Sunridge Drive, while traveling on Highway 395, will be soon be a small Washoe tribal smoke shop and open-air marketplace, according to Al Granados, business operations manager for the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada.

"It will be a small, barn-like structure with a drive-through," Granados said.

"The open-air market will be like a farmer's market. There will be E-Z UP white tent structures."

Granados said the outdoor market will be a place in the warm season where Washoe residents can sell their jewelry and other crafts and cultural products.

"We're always open to produce, too," he said.

Granados said the Tribe's focus on economic development was the primary driving force behind the new project.

"Our smoke shop in Carson City is pretty well hidden now because of the highway," he said. "It was a logical step to develop the property there in Silverado."

The 5-acre smoke shop site is part of the Tribe's larger Silverado property, 87 acres of which lie on the east side of Highway 395.

"The site is ideal for highway exposure," Granados said. "We're looking to capitalize on that and utilize what we have."

Granados said the smoke shop and market should be open for business by early August.