The owner of the 'Little' Nugget casino says the business will shut down for good on Thursday, July 30.
Unlike many other places in town, the Little Nugget was known for catering to residents of all backgrounds, creating what some locals called a 'true melting pot.'
“This is the only restaurant where you can come and see a casino owner, the governor and a bum all eating in the same place -- and it's so true, and that really embraces this building and what Reno is all about,” said Reno local Marcus Puiton.
“It's a common denominator, it doesn't matter where you come from, good food is good food. The fact that it's centrally located downtown and it's easy to get in and out of makes it pretty easy access for people, and if a rich person and a poor person sit down and enjoy the same thing, that sounds like a good thing," said local business owner Rick Shepherd.
The Little Nugget has adapted and transformed several times since Rick Heaney purchased it in 1989, when it was part of the Reno, Sparks and Carson City Nugget trinity. The Awful Awful however has been a Reno icon for over 70 years, when original owner Rick Graves brought the legendary burger recipe over from Idaho. Heaney told 2 News that because of the lack of business, cancellations of events, and closure of bars, the Little Nugget could not afford to continue. Because of this, locals are packing in to get their last taste of something awful good, and awful big.
Heaney says that even though they are closing, he is trying to keep the gaming license, and if things work out with the current landlord and the economy comes back, there is a chance that these doors won’t remain closed forever.
The absolute last day to get yourself an Awful Awful at the Little Nugget will be on July 30th. After that you can try a different version of the burger at the Nugget in Carson City -- however, we've learned Baldini's and the Sparks Nugget no longer serves it.
In a statement, the owner says:
