Eight shops and eateries in the new West Street Market are opening their doors this week in time for a Saturday grand opening.
The West Street Market is the latest Reno Redevelopment Agency project, tightly packing an expected 13 businesses into three refurbished 1930s-era brick buildings.
Shelli Fine of the agency said she expects to see the new market blossom as the weather warms up.
"This winter. I think we'll see some people down here just because it's new, but this summer, it's going to be packed," Fine said. "Look at what the River Walk has done, and the Wine Walk is a huge success. People like being downtown."
In warm weather the street-side storefronts of both Brickhouse Bakery and West Street Wine Bar can roll up for alfresco wining and dining.
Chris Tisdale, co-owner of Brickhouse Bakery, said his love of Reno and expectations for its future led him to pick the West Street Market location.
Tisdale, a McQueen High School and University of Nevada, Reno graduate, said he grew up as a part of the Deux Gros Nez generation, named for a popular coffee shop opened from 1985 to 2006. He said he hopes his bakery and the market will fill the niche left behind by the local hangout's closing.
"First and foremost, (The West Street Market's opening is) a clean up of our downtown," Tisdale said. "The whole idea of redeveloping our downtown is necessary. Over the years it has fallen into disrepair and we're trying to bring it back."
Tisdale said the bakery will have New Orleans style beignet covered in powdered sugar, espresso drinks, sandwiches and 20 varieties of cheesecake in a wide array of flavors from caramel apple to peanut butter and jelly.
Tisdale also is unveiling a vegan line of cookies, muffins, bread and sandwiches because he said there's a shortage of vegan options in Reno.
He's also inspired by the excellent eateries he found while living in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
"If you look at San Francisco's downtown, it's beautiful," Tisdale said. "You can walk around and enjoy it. This is what we need."
Though the West Street Market will bring in competing coffee and wine shops less than two blocks from Matt Polley's coffee shop Java Jungle and wine bar Jungle Vino, he said he's happy to see it.
Polley said the stores are different enough to complement each other and draw a new customer base to the downtown corridor that wouldn't visit the area otherwise.
Rick Martinez, owner of the West Street Wine Bar, said passers-by regularly have tapped on the door to find out when he'll be opening.
The West Street Wine Bar will offer beer, a cheese tray with fresh baguettes from next-door Brickhouse Bakery and wine by the glass and bottle. Martinez said he's installed a $3,600 wine preservation system that can keep a bottle fresh for two to four weeks.
The longer shelf-life will allow him to pour more expensive bottles by the glass, he said.
Fine said the city will book performances for the West Street Market's stage and temporarily feature businesses and exhibits in a "road show" area.
Fresh produce will be offered seasonally in the "road show" area as an attempt to grow new markets, Fine said.
"We're trying to create a demand for fresh fruit and vegetables year round," Fine said. "If the farmers know there's a demand they'll grow it."
Councilman Dave Aiazzi said the market is "a long time coming," and one of the few locations downtown that will feature large bins for glass, aluminum and cardboard recycling.
Tenants announced by the city of Reno:
Additionally, these businesses will man kiosks at the market:
What other people are saying...
weezy41683 from Sunset - December 04, 2008 at 11:48 AM
I'm extremely disappointed by this article...no mention of the other vendors in the market. horrible job.
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