Announcements
Sparks Christian Fellowship Food Pantry
Sparks Christian Fellowship Food Pantry recently received a $8,300 grant from Raley’s Food For Families. The money will be used to add a new commercial freezer to the pantry, which allows for more fresh food options for the more than 150 families the pantry serves each week. This grant is part of an ongoing effort by Raley’s Food for Families to help food pantries meet community needs and grow their ability to serve.
Bayou Bites
Bayou Bites is expanding. The Fallon-based New Orleans-style restaurant is opening a second location in Gardnerville on Kimmerling Road. The storefront isn’t open just yet, but is planning for early October.
Cafe Catrina
Cousins Camila Melgarejo and Diana Lobato announced the opening of their mobile coffee cart business honoring their Mexican roots, Cafe Catrina. They plan to officially open in the next few weeks. The mobile business is currently offering drink orders delivered to local businesses while they await the final build-out of their cart. Once it’s ready, the cousins plan to offer private catering for events as well as pop-ups at community events across Northern Nevada, focused mainly in Reno and Carson City.
The menu includes three main categories: signature lattes, fruit sodas with tres leche cold foam, and flavored waters. Combined, the duo brings eight years of coffee shop experience to their new venture. While they are beginning with a cart, the ultimate goal is to open a brick-and-mortar location.
Reno Revival
The owners of Reno Revival, the new casino-resort in development at the former Harrah’s Casino site in Downtown Reno, announced several food-and-beverage offerings coming to the complex as early as 2026. A September press release unveiled plans for 180,000 square feet of space being developed on the ground floor of Reno Revival by Fine Entertainment, a Las Vegas-based hospitality group.
Eight different businesses were announced: Mint will be a retro cocktail bar not unlike the Las Vegas business of the same name; sports fans will enjoy The George Sportsmen’s Lounge, an elevated sports bar with a stadium entertainment feel; craft beer will take center stage at PKWY Tavern; Smelly Cat will host karaoke as well as other musical entertainment throughout the week; and a new steakhouse-style restaurant named The BLVD Grille will offer live music along wide steaks and a full cocktail bar. There are three additional, unnamed projects listed in the release — a speakeasy, a country bar with line dancing, and an underground nightclub. Many of the named restaurants and bars have existing locations in Las Vegas and Henderson.
While that may sound like a lot already, it’s only the beginning of what’s in store for the Reno Revival and adjacent Reno Arch plaza. The multi-phase roll-out also has may include a Mexican restaurant and burger bar as well as additional concepts with new announcements coming soon.
Madison Capital Group, a real estate firm out of North Carolina, owns the larger project with Fine Entertainment taking the reins on the food and beverage offerings.
Pasta Fresca
Pasta Fresca is expanding. Owner Paolo Nicoletta announced plans to create a second location of the Italian restaurant inside of the old Rice Box/Noodle Box Kitchen space next door to The Discovery Museum. An opening date has not yet been confirmed. The first location of Pasta Fresca is located in the Shops at Bartley Ranch.
Glorious Garlic Farm
Glorious Garlic Farm is for sale. On Aug. 24, the business’ owner, Arnold Carbone, announced on Facebook that he had listed the farm (and home) and included a link to the Zillow listing on Lakeshore Drive in Washoe Valley. The asking price is $890,000. Photo by Arnold Carbone.
MF International
A new iteration of Mellow Fellow is headed to Sparks. After closing its ballpark location on Aug. 30, citing high rent costs and lower patronage in the off-season, Owner Ryan Eller decided to open MF International at 2855 N. McCarran, Ste. 106, in Sparks. The new restaurant will focus on burritos, bowls, and salads showcasing some of the best flavors from Mellow Fellow’s menu over the last four years. There will be 17 burritos, to start, representing 14 countries as well as canned and bottled beers. Everything will be made from scratch in house and instead of a sit-down concept, the eatery will focus on counter service, carry out, delivery, and catering. Menu items will cost $14-17 each. The target opening date is September 9.
Casale’s Halfway Club
Casale’s Halfway Club is getting a facelift. The historic Reno restaurant was announced as a recipient of a $50,000 grant courtesy of The National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express in its fifth year of its Backing Historic Small Restaurants program. The money is meant to help small businesses with long histories update their eateries while also expanding business. Casale’s first opened in 1937.
El Toro Bravo
El Toro Bravo is on a mission to keep its doors open. The Truckee eatery, located in the heart of Old Town, has been serving the community Grandma Rey’s favorites for 37 years since it first opened in 1988. The current owners, Trinidad (Trini) and his uncle Mike, who are third- and fourth-generation descendants of Grandma Rey, are scrambling to buy the building and business in order to stay open.
Foothill Market
The owners of Foothill Market are planning to open the shop as early as September, taking over the space that was the Genoa Country Store. Owners Casey and Hailey Sebahar say the goal is to create a market for people who don’t want to drive 20 minutes to a grocery store, carrying basic items such as dairy, eggs, bread, wine, and produce. The market will not operate as a full grocery store but will have just the essentials, plus a few extras, including a menu of sandwiches and salads, hot dogs, and soft-serve ice cream. There also will be a bar. While the concept may sound similar to its predecessor, the owners say the market will be completely different. The entire inside of the store was redesigned and the equipment, counters, electrical, and plumbing have all been updated or replaced. Casey and Hailey moved to Genoa from Southern California 10 years ago. Casey has worked at both The Pink House and Daniel’s in Genoa since relocating.
Dough.Cheese.Sauce
Marvin Kinney From R Town Pizza in Reno plans to open a new restaurant for NY-style pizza by the slice, which will welcome diners late into the evening. He will move into the new spot and will be partnering with the owner of Press Start Bar & Arcade, John Simpson. Located on Center Street in Reno. Get ready for Dough.Cheese.Sauce to arrive in Midtown early Fall.
Great Gold
Brandon Kirksey is bringing a second location of Great Gold, his Truckee-based American-Italian restaurant, to Village at Rancharrah in Reno this winter in the spot Grafted Whiskey & Wine Bar once operated in. The restaurant will be the third business represented by Great Gold Hospitality Group, which includes the first Great Gold location and Tangerine French Bistro, both in Truckee. The menu will focus on seasonal, farm-to-table produce, meats, and seafood including wood-fired pizzas, Italian wines, and more. The restaurant plans to offer a blend of upscale fine dining and a cozy, intimate vibe punctuated by modern industrial botanical design, according to Kirksey. Kirksey brings two decades of experience to the kitchen. The James Beard Award nominee has long worked in popular West Coast restaurants and will serve as the head chef, partner, and creative visionary of the new Great Gold project. When the doors officially open, dinner service will occur nightly from 5-9 p.m. with plans to eventually roll out brunch. In addition to 80 inside seats, Great Gold will have an additional 40 on the patio. Kirksey’s partners include his wife, Juliana Toro; the founder of Flour + Water Hospitality group, David Steele; and Timmy Malloy (both chef and partner).
Good Days Café
The Owner of Dubs Sports Lounge announced his new venture — Good Days Café, taking over the former Laughing Planet spot near University of Nevada, Reno. He posted to social media about the plans in late July, expressing his excitement over opening a new restaurant near his alma mater. The location isn’t serving customers yet, but he is updating Instagram along the way, showing each step of the remodel process as he goes.
Electric Pickle and Country Creamery
RED (Reno Experience District) officials recently made some big expansion announcements. In addition to the Squeeze In news we already reported, the center also will welcome Electric Pickle and Country Creamery to the growing landscape.
Electric Pickle features pickleball courts, golf simulators, bocce ball facilities, and live music performances. It’s expected to open in early 2026. Electric Pickle will include a full-service international fusion restaurant with outdoor seating. The cuisine will include various styles such as Mexican, Italian, and Asian. Guests will also be able to enjoy craft beers, wine, cocktails, and frozen beverages.
Country Creamery, owned by Kyle and Carly Sipherd, already has a Fallon ice cream shop and a partnership with Cottonwood Dairy in Fallon for its farm-fresh cream. The Sipherds will bring their handcrafted ice cream brand to this new venture, selling 11 forever flavors as well as seasonal treats. Details on an opening date are still to be determined.
Aloha Shack
Chris and Theresa Luke are looking to sell their Hawaiian restaurant Aloha Shack located on Red Rock Road in Reno’s North Valleys. Chris cited the reason for the potential sale/closure as wanting to move back to California to be closer to family and get support for his wife’s medical issues. While they are “getting the ball rolling,” the couple isn’t going anywhere just yet. As of now, the two plan to finish out their lease, which ends in April 2026. Whether someone will buy just the equipment or the entire brand is up in the air. Chris says he and Theresa may open something in California as well.
Squeeze In
Owners of Squeeze In — the breakfast-and-lunch spot that started in Truckee in 1974 and now has eight locations in California and Nevada — announced that its newest location will open in spring 2026 in the Reno Experience District at 2020 Red Drive. The restaurant will be owned and operated by Carson City Squeeze In owner Whitney Goldwater and her family. A former 911 operator, Goldwater has been part of the Squeeze In owners family since 2023 and was a customer for many years prior, along with her husband, Mike, and children.
Sage Leaf
We are excited to announce that Sage Leaf restaurant, located in Incline Village, is opening a second location in the soon-to-be-vacated space held by Laughing Planet in Midtown Reno. Laughing Planet is closing permanently and leaving the location on Tahoe Street at the end of July. Shane and Lara Hammett, owners of Sage Leaf, will receive the keys in August and hope to open in October. The Hammetts met in 2007 while working at the Napa Valley Grille in Yountville and they worked around wine country before moving to Lake Tahoe in 2011 and opening Sage Leaf. Shane also is the restaurant’s chef and sommelier. The couple prides themselves on using local, sustainable, and humanly raised products, including Niman Ranch and other small purveyors, and have a commitment to family-owned farms and sustainable agriculture. Menus feature seasonal and fresh ingredients. Photos by Jen Schmidt
Nevada State Entomologist Jeff Knight
Nevada State Entomologist Jeff Knight is retiring on July 4th after 40 years with the Nevada Department of Agriculture. The entomology program identifies, surveys, and provides management solutions for insect pests that can impact agriculture and our food supply. In 1977, Knight started his career with the NDA as an “entomology seasonal.” In 1993, Knight was promoted to state entomologist where he safeguarded Nevada’s economy and food security by responding to invasive species and agricultural pests. His passion and dedication to the development and curation of the State of Nevada Entomology Collection has catalogued the discovery of new species within the state and expanded the formal state records for species. He also has identified innumerable samples from the public and agriculture community, offering insights and management recommendations. Knight is regarded as a tireless advocate for environmental stewardship, educating Nevadans on the importance of sustainable practices to preserve our state’s valuable ecosystems. His dedication to protecting Nevada’s agriculture has been invaluable. Photo by Chris Holloman
Haumbody Sanctuary
This fall, Haumbody Sanctuary plans to open in the former Junkee space in Midtown Reno. The gathering place for wellness and community building comes from married founders Amber Campion and Peter Lam. It will be a yoga and fitness studio fused with an elegant tea house, medicinal mocktail and elixir lounge, and eatery with nourishing and wholesome dishes. The social space is meant to stimulate meaningful connection, mindful movement, and restorative rituals. For details, follow Haumbody Sanctuary on Instagram.
Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows just launched its Workforce Readiness Food Truck, giving teens hands-on job experience while they serve homemade pizza, fresh cookies, and watermelon lemonade. The truck debuted at Idlewild Park’s Food Truck Fridays on June 6, and will be back every Friday through August (except July 4). It’s more than a food truck; it’s a career readiness classroom on wheels. The club teens are getting involved — from taking orders to learning small business operations.
South Shore Brewery Trail
In June, the Tahoe Chamber announced the launch of the South Shore Brewery Trail, a free hop-on, hop-off brewery shuttle running every Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the summer and into Oktoberfest. The Brewery Trail connects five South Lake breweries: South Lake Brewing Co. (original location at The Y), Cold Water Brewery and Grill, Sidellis Lake Tahoe Brewery & Restaurant, South of North Brewing Co., and The Libation Lodge Kitchen & Taproom (by South Lake Brewing Co.). As part of the experience, guests can pick up a Brewery Trail passport at any participating brewery. If they collect a stamp at each location and turn in the completed passport, they can receive a custom South Shore Beer Trail pint glass.
Assembly Bill 375
On June 12, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo signed Assembly Bill 375, a new law that permits certain food establishments in Nevada to sell and deliver sealed alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption, if authorized by local ordinance. The law allows county commissions and city councils to approve regulations letting qualified businesses sell and deliver sealed alcohol. These sales will include a surcharge of up to 50 cents per transaction, with the money funding administrative costs and the state’s DUI reduction program. Changes to craft distillery rules also were included. Distillers with exclusive contracts created before Jan. 1 may now import spirits to create a specific product and produce up to 40,000 additional cases for out-of-state sales. They may also use spirits made by other manufacturers for those exclusive products. The law also designates the Picon Punch, a traditional Basque drink, as Nevada’s official state drink. AB 375 passed with strong support in both the Assembly and Senate before being signed into law and enrolled as Chapter 421. Most provisions take effect October. Photo of Picon punch at JT Basque in Gardnerville by Shea Evans
Assembly Bill 404
On June 4, the Nevada Craft Brewers Association announced the successful passage of Assembly Bill 404, touted as a milestone piece of legislation aimed at modernizing and supporting Nevada’s independent craft beer industry. The bill passed without opposition. AB 404 allows in-state breweries and distilleries to ship beer directly to consumers outside of Nevada, granting them a vital, modern tool to navigate an increasingly challenging and competitive market. This is a privilege that wineries and breweries were granted in 2020, however, it was rescinded specifically to breweries in 2021. The legislation also provides clear authorization for breweries to operate up to two taproom locations where beer is not brewed on site as well as serve other alcohol, creating much-needed flexibility and a greater ability to grow within local communities. Breweries with more than two taprooms will be grandfathered in. The passage of AB 404 represents a major achievement for the more than 50 breweries across Nevada represented by the NCBA.
Whitecaps Pizza
Whitecaps Pizza at Kings Beach, which opened in 2017 in the old Steamers building, is debuting a rooftop patio this summer. The bar backs up to the lake, offering customers an unobstructed view of Tahoe.
Tahoe Restaurant Group
Tahoe Restaurant Group, which owns Tahoe restaurants Basecamp Pizza Co., Fireside Pizza Co., Rubicon Pizza Co., and Azul Latin Kitchen, recently became an employee-owned company. This allows employees to receive free retirement benefits as long as they work a minimum of 800 hours per year. Among the upsides of this model, which required the owners to sell their shares into a trust, is that employees now have a stake in the company’s overall success.
