In a pothole-ridden strip mall parking lot off I-580 and Oddie Boulevard, the long-vacant former Lowe's Home Improvement Center is getting new life, thanks to the creators of the Reno Public Market.
The 232,000 square-foot building is going to be home to the Oddie District, with its first tenants opening their doors in June. The project does have some similarities to RPM, with space in the 'Oddie Commons' for restaurants and events, but lead developer Doug Wiele says that's not his primary focus.
In what Google reviewers agree may be one of the most run-down strip malls in Reno and Sparks, the creators of the Reno Public Market see an opportunity for art and community.
Rather than shopping and restaurants, the industrial-sized offices will be home to engineering, the arts, and trades. And he has great expectations for what's going to happen when he gets those businesses together.
"You've got somebody stuck working on their laptop, and just can't solve a problem. ‘Okay, I'm gonna go get a coffee.’ And then somebody else comes and sits down, and they're having the same problem. And when you put those kind of people together, ideas, magic happens," he told 2 News Nevada in an interview at the project site.
And it's not just the right combination of people making that "magic." It's the environment. Wiele and his partner plan to put their 32-foot high ceilings to good use. In fact, they already have one tenant who's moved in and made the most of the space.
Art that'll make your neck sore
Walk through the doors of The Reno Generator right now, and you're locked in a staring contest with a massive metal cobra, roughly 30 feet tall. A cobbled-together lobby space to your right is arranged around a fairytale-looking mushroom, easily bigger than your car. And a sculpture of a bird-in-flight, wearing a saddle, looks like it's ready to take you for a ride - if not for the 'no climbing' sign.
The Generator is a "makerspace," where community members can access the industrial-grade tools they need for personal and business projects, including large-scale art.
They were the first tenants to move into the Oddie District in 2022, and not by coincidence.
"When (recreational) marijuana became legal, suddenly the market for class C and D just went through the roof, so our lease got real expensive at our original location," said Board of Directors President Jerry Snyder.
The Generator was in a temporary location for a while, trying to find a home. When Wiele and his project partner Nettie Oliverio heard about the conundrum, they wanted to help. Snyder was more than pleasantly surprised that they actually came through.
Since then, The Generator has served as inspiration for what's happening on the other side of the Oddie District. Not only is Wiele looking for 'complimentary' businesses to fill out the space, but Oliverio is making sure that the art shines through in every corner of the building.
Lofts and open spaces in the hallways will be home to sculptures so tall, they'll make your neck sore from gawking. Along with making the Oddie District a destination for onlookers, Oliverio has another goal in mind.
"We hope that people will come through, and they'll go, 'You know what, that is exactly what I need for the front of my business, and then buy it from the artist, and then another piece goes up," she said.
And with the addition of an outdoor 'art park' on the east side of the building, Oliverio and Snyder say the district is adding another feather to its cap: The Reno Generator will be the largest makerspace in the nation, at 85,000 square feet.
"Looking for the edgy ones"
Wiele has a very specific vision in mind as he leases out space in the Oddie District.
"I mean, most businesses have a creative edge to them, but we're looking for the edgy ones," he said with a chuckle.
And he's serious about that. He's already turned some people away.
"(We had a) pickleball guy drive us crazy," Weile said. "'What do you mean you won't lease space to me? I'll pay you rent. I'll pay you more rent.' No, I don't want pickleball. I want companies and people that make things. ... We had the luxury of saying, that's okay, just go away."
Some highlights from his current tenant lineup include a pre-apprentice training center that turns out 1,200 graduates every 12 weeks, with experience in plumbing, electric, and HVAC work. Sitting across the hall from them is Nevadaworks, a workforce development program through the state.
The project hasn't been without its hiccups. A robotics company expected to move into one of most visible office spaces in the building folded before it ever made it to the Oddie District.
Wiele isn't deterred. He said he has high hopes that another robotics company will be 'rise out of the ashes' and find its home in the district.
Enlivening the whole neighborhood
Walking along the concrete patio where the 'art park' and community garden will be, Oliverio and Wiele said they caught something strange and stirring on their site surveillance cameras recently.
A lineup of white trucks pulled into the Oddie District's parking lot one evening, which is still fenced-off and under construction. Almost as if it were a planned parade, they filed to the side of the building and parked slanted along the wall, one-by-one. The drivers got out, gathered on the 'art park' patio, and turned to stare at the mural that's being painted on the side of the building.
Wiele and Oliverio agreed that it was a moment that fulfilled their hopes for the project, that the campus won't just be a business hub, but that community members will feel welcome to come enjoy the art, food, and environment that the Oddie District is trying to create.
"It's not just about the building. It's for the community," Wiele said.
As the first tenants open their doors in June, and more follow through the end of the year, the project will fill-out with features designed to dazzle visitors. Along with the theater, art, and events space, the project boasts some unique planned attractions, like a 'beer wall' and a large indoor-outdoor conical fire pit.
"We just think it'll blow people's minds when they get to see some of what's being created here," Oliverio said.
