Visitreno

CaSwede · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 866

What? I didn't even know they closed, but that they did. They closed on January 1st for some improvements. There is an article in the RGJ about TheRow. Has anyone here actually been in the place?

http://www.rgj.com/article/20120121/BIZ/301220005/1071/BIZ/CommRow+reopens+today

LilyJDragonfly · Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 425

Indeed The Dog and I did our duty to visit the place during our adventures in Reno for NYE (of course, the trip report hasn't been posted...)

It was icky, to say the least. We went in around 8pm on a Thursday night, I believe, and it was empty.

They still have the old Fitzgerald's buffet sign at the escalators which we went up to see the second floor. Upon disembarking from the elevator, we were accosted by a young hipster girl who wanted to see our wristbands. The Dog told her we were just checking the place out and certainly had no intention of climbing on anything (the second floor is the Activity Area). She insisted we get out our IDs to get a wristband just to be inside the place.

We got back on the escalator and left.

None of the restaurants were open downstairs and the themed bars were either empty or had one or two people in them. The "club" area with pulsing music was similarly populated. I have a picture or two somewhere but I haven't offloaded anything from my camera recently.

Crapsjunkie · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 40

Yawn.... What happened to Reno and Casino excitement?

mjames1229 · Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Posts: 407

Indian casinos in California.

BC Dave · Site Admin Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 1596

Pity about the Fitz. Perhaps the new owners should take a fresh look at Harold's Club's motto - "Reno or Bust!" But now maybe it should be "Gambling or Bust!"

Mjames has it right, but it's not just California - it's everywhere! We Canadians, BC'ers, and Vancouverites used to be huge customers for the Reno market. Then, with advent of Indian casinos in Washington state and our own British Columbia government deciding it wanted in on the action - casinos were not airplane ride away anymore - They were a short drive (if not a walk or a bike ride).

Vegas still attracts Canadians and Reno could too but it's been so long since Reno has been seen as a major gambling destination here that it would be quite an uphill battle. The old crowd that used to frequent Reno has largely lost interest or.. well you know, gone elsewhere.

As far as I'm concerned Reno is still the best place for my gambling buck. But it's a lot tougher to get there than it once was. Customs, 3 hour drive to Seattle, airport security line-ups...etc.

Vegas is easier for Vancouverites. A 45 minute drive to Bellingham (basically just across the border) and you can catch a cheap flight on Allegiant Air. They used to fly to Reno but stopped a couple of years ago.

stan_allen · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 1129

Closed for "Improvements"???

How about this for an improvement: take out those pompous restaurant names (fine, keep the food if you really want), add in a ton of slot machines, table games, and entertainment stages with decent performers, put the emphasis back on booze, offer discounts, promos, coupons, trinkets, and cocktail waitresses.

Dress the whole thing up in a "Luck 'o the Irish" theme, and call it....

oh, wait a minute. Nevermind.

Well, I can dream, can't I???

Shooty · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 182