Sharkey's Casino has been a Gardnerville landmark for more than seven decades. It originally opened as "The Golden Bubble" in the 1940s and was bought by Milo "Sharkey" Begovich in 1971. Over the years, the wear and tear has taken its toll on the building. But after only five months of renovations, Sharkey's Casino is back open for business with a new owner.
"It's always going to be Sharkey's place and we're just happy to be able to carry on the tradition," Mike Pegram, Owner of Sharkey's Casino said.
Pegram owns Bodines Casino, in Carson City, and the Carson Valley Inn, in Minden. He has spruced Sharkey's up, combining the old with the new.
"He did it with speed and he did it with fantastic grace, too," Lloyd Higuera, Chairman of Gardnerville Town Board said. "I mean, this place is really something to see."
The Silver Dollar Bar sits where a staircase once stood, and the casino has more than 200 slot machines and a sports book.
"You see the old brick wall that used to be covered up, you've got the hardwood floors that you normally don't see in a casino and these are the original hardwood floors," Pegram said.
"If I was to plop myself down in here, and I've lived here a long time, I wouldn't even know I was in Sharkey's," Doug Johnson, Chair of the Douglas County Commission said.
The sign that used to grace the front of the building, outside, is now used as a ceiling ornament inside the casino. Johnson says keeping the building alive means a lot for preserving the history of the town.
"This was the place where when you had friends and family come into town, you would bring them here just to see all the memorabilia on the wall for years and years and years," Johnson said.
Holder Hospitality bought the casino in 2002 but closed it down, late last year. Now, about 80 people work there, helping to revitalize downtown Gardnerville.
"I think it will attract the tourist and they'll come back again and again," Higuera said. "And also attract the locals, too."
One of the those attractions is the food served at the Jackpot Cafe.
"Sharkey was always famous for his prime rib," Pegram said. "We're trying to carry on that tradition. Sharkey believed a man should never leave here hungry and we're going to make sure we carry on that tradition, also."Â Â Â
The grand opening coincides with a Merle Haggard concert at the Carson Valley Inn. Haggard used to make appearances at Sharkey's Casino, many years ago. The concert is at 8pm but tickets are sold out.
