Grand Sierra: La Vita Dolce
The Grand Sierra Resort developers are going for something completely alien to Reno–a truly luxurious resort. It seems a bunch developers from outside Nevada are going to show Reno how to raise its expectations for the kind of tourist the city can attract (and none of the project bigwigs appear to be from California for those of you looking for that fodder). Its a good sign for the city that the GSR is mirroring downtown developers who have also recognized Reno’s economic potential, although I suspect that most future owners of downtown luxury condominiums are also investors speculating in our burgeoning real estate market. As an non-speculating owner of a downtown condominium, its what I’ve noticed.
I used to be one of those people who just didn’t get what GSR was going do with the former Hilton. But after a recent visit, I’m convinced the GSR executives know exactly what they’re doing, and why shouldn’t they? They have considerable experience doing the same thing in other locations (view executive profiles by visiting this link and clicking on “Team”). Even though the renovations have just begun, I noticed the changes to the resort immediately as I entered through the revolving door on the south side of the building near the outdoor theater. The chandeliers, the ones I never noticed in the Hilton lobby before (probably because of the hideous fuschia flower-accented carpet and dingy ceiling washed them out), shone gorgeously against the newly chocolate painted ceiling. When its finished, the whole resort, especially the condo/hotel units will be full of rich colors and classic architectural features with a decidely Deco emphasis. Everywhere you look there is leather, faux fur, suede, mirrored tables, lucite lamps–a thoroughly modern aesthetic–all wrapped up in chocolatey goodness. The floor plans and design features are available here. The minx couldn’t find a place she didn’t wanted to kick her shoes off, sit back and relax with a martini. And get this–they’re moving the casino to the basement. That’s right people–there will be no smoky maze of slot machines and tables to navigate through on your way to a restaurant or shop. Imagine. And it just goes to show you how serious GSR is about transforming the property into a destination friendly to everyone who has more than a little cash to spend. The words “Chanel store” were even mentioned.
I finally dined at Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante’s Reno location inside the GSR, and although I wasn’t wowed by the food, it was good enough–the bruschetta was hardly toasted and contained onions (not my favorite), but the gnocchi, a dish I usually order as a test, was cooked correctly and served in a nice pesto sauce. Their chocolate cake and ice cream dessert pales in comparison to the one I recently enjoyed at Sezmu, and Bjorn the Houseboy was not happy with the decaffeinated coffee he was served, but he’s generally in a foul mood anyway and he may have just been annoyed because I made him wear the new shoes I bought him. Like the rest of GSR, Dolce’s interior is dark and rich and features the most comfortable dining chairs on which I have ever had the pleasure to sit. Its the perfect place for a romantic rendezvous or to hang out with a group of friends. If I’m not mistaken, the dining chairs are even on wheels so you can easily move from table to table for maximum socializing late into the night as the restaurant reportedly blends into a large bar. If you are looking for a deliciously dark place with food that’s good enough, Dolce is it. Plus you can eat as late as 10:00 or 11:00pm on the weekends–more late dining choices are always appreciated in Reno. Decorated as it is, in a scheme I would call “den of iniquity,” its an easy place to hide or to be seen depending on your needs. You can drop a lot of cash here easily but you can also be fairly thrifty depending on what you order, and considering that this is our first pseudo-celebrity (inspired) restaurant, its hopefully a harbinger of what’s coming Reno’s way in the next few years–more good restaurants. I can’t be the only one who’s heard rumors about upcoming celebrity chef restaurant/s in the GSR.
Will the GSR help Reno construct its own Via Veneto, the street made famous in Federico Fellini’s La Vita Dolce? Probably not. But as Jude Gabbard keeps reminding me, Reno has a history of decadence. I for one am looking for its return.
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Where did you hear they’re moving the casino the basement? As the casino is leased from GSR and operated by a third party, I wonder how they’d make that work in the shopping mall area they’ve announced plans to upgrade.
I’ve always been a believer in what GSR is doing to the Hilton Property. Perhaps I am a bit biased becaused I designed and implemented http://www.grandsierracondos.com for GSR, or it coudl also be because I know their plan in a bit more detail than most. A lot of people are pissed because they aren’t seeing the water park built right away, or because they aren’t noticing extreme changes on the property.
GSR is SMART because they are renovating the property in phases, as to not overly cash-strap themselves in the process(like the Palladio did).
Everything for this property is in phases. As soon as they finish the hotel-condo conversions and sell out a certain percentage of rooms, the banks will give them the money to build the water park, move the casino to the basement, and build the luxury spa. It really stinks for GSR that city code dictates owners of those hotel-condos in the existing tower can only stay there 28 days out of the year, but GSR has sold over 60% of their units anyway regardless.
I guess I am the proverbial optimist when it comes to ANY project, but GSR has better, more solid plans for that property than any of the previous owners (Bally’s, MGM, Hilton).
They are giving a 20 minute presentation at the Reno Redevelopment Agency’s Citizen Advisory Board http://www.cityofreno.com/gov/boards/pdfs/board_pdfs/121306Agenda.pdf so perhaps they are read yto take the next step. I will be at the meeting to find out!
seeing those plans I realize there must be a market for the higher end casino resorts in No. Nevada. I was in the Peppermill this weekend and the new stuff going in there is going to force the their competitors to step it up! The new sports book about to open looks great!
Plus the food prices in there have gone up noticeably, $9 for a Steak sandwich with fries, it used to be $5!.
And the Peppermill was still packed- seems people will pay more for a nicer place.
This speaks well for what Ellen Oppenheim is saying at the RSCVA. Raise the prices and you’ll get higher paying customers. Tax base rises, as does the marketing budget. More marketing, more people paying higher prices. It’s a good loop to be in.
Exactly….
I think Oppenheim and Company are living in a fantasy world where somehow raising the price of everything will suddenly mean high rollers will ditch Vegas and Vail to come to Reno because it costs more than it used to. Under that logic why doesn’t McDonald’s charge $10 for a Quarter-Pounder and draw in the upscale crowd that is just dying to go there if only it was more expensive?
The simple fact is Oppenheim wants more money for the RSCVA. Maybe she can have a new campaign “Reno. Same Place. Just More Expensive.”
Is there anybody who seriously thinks places like the Sands and Fitzgerald’s can fill up midweek by charge $100 rather than the $30 they offer now?
If the RSCVA needs the money, then she should look at an increase in the per room tax to boost her coffers. Adding another couple bucks to the current market-based price is a lot more palatable than receiving the same amount through large increases in average rates.
No, the rooms at the Sands and Fitzgeralds arent worth it. There have to be some cheap options.
The Grand Sierra isnt doing the bidding of the RSCVA.
The whole GSR hotel/condo is a different animal.
I still, though, don’t see the appeal to buyers for purchasing some place they can only stay in for less than 10% of the year. And, from my understanding, the whole revenue sharing for these types of projects tend to be pretty low on the sharing part. I can’t help but think most of that 60% are speculators.
I’m sure a lot of them are–just like most of the buyers of condos in downtown….
Checking out the Grand Sierra site there is mention of 200,000 sq. ft. of convention space and goes on to mention a martini bar overlooking the casino. I can’t figure out the logistics of moving the casino to the basement and maintaining all of that convention space. It’s anti what the space is currently.
Sorry- I don’t think it will ever be built. If I was going to make an investment in a vacation condo, it wouldn’t be right alongside 395, off Mill Street, or alongside a water park filled with screaming kids. “We’ve sold 60%” sounds like agent talk. Building in phases often means testing the waters or a lack of confidence and/or funding. If you can only stay 28 days out of the year, what’s their cut when they rent it out, and what will it be 5 years down the road?
I believe this whole project is a giant scam. The condos are not worth what they are selling them for and the return on the investment in less than a bank savings account. I have a friend who works there and since GSR took over occupancy is down over 40%. The dealers are all starving from low tips. This is a scam that will hurt Reno.