CARSON MEANS BUSINESS: Commerce enliven east, north parts of city

Commerce involving national and local investment, including a Dunkin’ Donuts outlet, is coming to north and east Carson City as the recession recedes in the rear view mirror.

Details on the Dunkin’ Donuts decision were sparse, but reports indicate a franchise was set to go into space on East William Street where Assemblyman Pete Livermore used to have an A&W Root Beer outlet and in which a taco restaurant was located later.

Also going into that shopping corridor, which is undergoing a face lift, is a 99 Cents Only store in half the space that used to house Scolari’s Food & Drug, which the Appeal reported last spring.

The Dunkin’ Donuts addition was disclosed Friday by Ronni Hannaman, executive director of the city’s Chamber of Commerce, and another source confirmed it while saying details would have to come from a Reno real estate broker who couldn’t be reached.

Also opening in that general east side area, but on the south side of East William Street/U.S. Highway 50 East in a former 7/11 convenience store/gasoline outlet’s spot, will be a check cashing firm.

Hannaman expressed excitement about not only the work along the East William Street/US 50 East corridor, but also because of firms locating on the city’s north side. Both are community gateways, but she said the area to the east is abuzz with life near the I-580 freeway interchange, a jumping off point into the city for both southbound and northbound freeway traffic and for incoming traffic from Lyon County.

“To me, this shows that there is some movement in that area,” she said, also citing Tractor Supply’s earlier construction and opening near there. “They are sprucing that area up, and that will be the gateway to Carson City.”

On North Carson Street, where another freeway entry-exit is located, the city is getting another national franchise chain restaurant outlet in Taco Bell. The Taco Bell has been built on the east side of North Carson Street to the north of the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express, across from Carson Tahoe Health’s medical center campus. Construction is expected to be finished in September. This also prompted positive comments from the chamber’s chief.

“They’ll be successful there,” Hannaman said, noting there are no eateries nearby and both hotel and hospital patrons are potential customers.

In addition, she mentioned the new Living the Good Life lounge to the south on North Carson Street. The night spot at 1480 N. Carson St., which opened just weeks ago, represents local investment. Hannaman said it caters to an undeserved niche in the community.

Geared to an after dinner crowd and located between Cafe at Adele’s to the south and Glen Eagles Restaurant and Lounge to the north, Hannaman said it was packed when she checked it out just over a week ago after the Comstock Cowboys performed at the Nevada Sesquicentennial Fair. “We didn’t really have that kind of place for the 25 to 55 group,” she said.