Club Cal-Neva to reopen second closed casino in downtown Reno

Wednesday, April 21, 1999 | 9:23 a.m.

The announcement on Tuesday came a week after Cal-Nevada officials revealed plans to lease and reopen another closed property, the Virginian.

Local officials hope the Cal-Neva's intentions signal brighter days for Washoe County's casino and tourism core, where six casinos have closed in the past four months.

"We believe that the entire river redevelopment area can be as strong an attraction as any entertainment gaming city in the United States has once it's fully developed, and we intent to play a major role in making that happen," said Phil Bryan, Cal-Neva president and chief executive.

The Club Cal-Neva has no hotel rooms. The Riverboat has two hotel towers with a total of 296 rooms, while the Virginian has 124 rooms.

Jeffrey Siri, Cal-Neva vice president and chief financial officer, said the Riverboat deal calls for the Cal-Neva to pay $1.8 million for one hotel tower and signing a three-year lease with an option to buy the other tower.

The casino hopes to close the deal by Monday and reopen the rooms by Memorial Day, when it also wants to reopen the Virginian's rooms. Rooms in the second tower of the Riverboat need furniture and could open a short time later, officials said.

Tony Santo, who manages the Flamingo Hilton-Reno across the street from the Riverboat, said the reopening will help downtown.

"It's going to be good for everybody downtown," he said. "One less closed building."