Archive
LEX Nightclub
LEX Nightclub at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno closed on Jan. 1 after a final New Yearโs Eve event titled โThe Last Dance.โ It had been open for 11 years. The nightclub is being reimagined into a new entertainment venue as the GSR undergoes an extensive expansion in coming years.ย
Karajillo & Co.
Before the year ended, Karajillo & Co. opened its bar doors on the Riverwalk in the old Blind Dog Tavern space left vacant on Jan. 1, 2025. Just shy of one year later, the owners of neighboring Toro Bravo (Sergio Romero and Rene Preciado who also own La Condesa and Mexcal, respectively) opened their coffee-to-cocktails concept, providing caffeinated beverages and fresh pastries by day and boozy beverages and mocktails by night.
Currently in its soft launch period, the bar opens daily at 7 a.m. A grand opening announcement is expected soon.
Tahoe Bagel Co.
The owners of Tahoe Bagel Co. say they plan to open their new location in Independence Square in Reno this month. The East Coast-style bagelry and deli, owned by Justin and Jeffrey Kaplan, has two other locations in South Lake Tahoe, which opened in 2020, and Stateline, which opened in 2022.
The Mint at Revival Reno
Revival Reno, in the former Harrahโs Reno resort in Downtown Reno, welcomed its first tenant on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 2025. The Mint is the propertyโs casino, a boutique version of some of the larger casino floors in The Biggest Little City with just 18 gaming machines inside and no tables or sports-betting kiosks. The 24/7 operation also houses a retro bar with cocktails to match and quick service food items, including pizza, wings, and wraps.
Itโs the first in a series of new businesses expected to open in the property, which dates back to 1969. Harrahโs Reno closed for good on March 17, 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOPO at Reno Public Market
The owner of DOPO at Reno Public Market in Reno announced the closure of this location via social media on Jan. 5. The pizza-and-pasta joint has two other locations โ one in Renoโs Riverwalk District and the other in Truckee. The latter opened officially on Dec. 2, 2025.
In the post it was mentioned that owner closed the food-hall location to focus on full-dining experiences at the restaurant locations.
Lulou’s Restaurant
The first casualty of 2026, Lulouโs Restaurant announced its closure after more than 26 years in business. The Midtown restaurant, owned by Chef Troy Cannan and his wife Coleen, was known for fine dining and a creative menu.
The owners announced their plans to focus on their other two Reno restaurants, neighboring businesses Kauboi Izakaya and Willieโs Pasta Shop, which previously shared staff with Lulouโs. Photos by Shea Evans.
Wave Sushi Bar
Wave Sushi Bar is opening across the street from Greater Nevada Field in Reno in spring of 2026. The restaurant comes from a team of owners: Maria Ruiz-Tinajero, Brian Hernandez Gonzalez, Norma V. Martinez Quintana, and Oscar A. Martinez Carrillo. Oscar and Norma also own Mr. Crab Seafood Boils in Reno.
Since 2024, the two couples have been perfecting their menu and sharing roles with their family members. The location, at 300 E. Second St., will be Wave Sushi’s first. It will be inside the former Mellow Fellow space.
Next Pour
A new wine-and-cocktail bar is coming to Northwest Reno. From the owners of Bighorn Tavern, Next Pour will open next door to the original Bighorn location in early to mid-2026. Next Pourโs will specialize in bourbon but staff members also offer wine, cocktails, and mocktails.
The owners want to create a space that is accessible to the general public and celebrates the people in their lives, with each drink named after someone they know personally such as The Megan, The Nic, The Karen, The Natalya, and The Robert.
Construction is currently underway but an opening date isnโt available at this time.
Ferino Distillery
After a hiatus, the Ferino Distillery tasting room reopened on Dec. 13. While the tasting room on Fourth Street in Reno has been closed for much of 2025, the distillery never stopped operating and has, in fact, been expanding in part due to Ferinoโs takeover of production of Toraniโs Amer liqueur used in the popular, and Nevadaโs official state cocktail, Picon Punch. For the foreseeable future, visitors can visit and taste Ferinoโs products โ and other sippers โ 4 โ 8 p.m. Thurs. โ Sat.
Frey Ranch Distillery
Frey Ranch Distillery landed on Food & Wineโs Best New Bourbons of 2025 list, published on Dec. 5. There were only nine spirits recognized and Frey Ranchโs Harvester Series Second Harvest was ranked No. 7 of those nine. The writeup praised owners Colby and Ashley Frey for their grain-to-glass operation and consistently quality products. The Harvester Series bottle was made from several single barrels, using mostly 100% wheat whiskey.
According to the author, Dylan Ettinger, โThe finished whiskey starts with a gentle nose of honey and nutmeg. On the palate, rich butterscotch and dark chocolate fade into a berry-like finish. Itโs a very complex pour that takes you on a unique journey from start to finish. Itโs a great expression of Frey Ranchโs creativity as whiskey makers.โ
R Town Pizza & Smiling With Hope Recognized as Top Pizza Spots in the U.S.
Reno is no stranger to good pizza, and The Biggest Little City is getting national recognition for its standout pies. When Yelp unveiled its top 15 pizza spots in the U.S., two Reno locations made the cut. A slice above the rest, R Town Pizza, owned by Marvin Kinney, and Smiling With Hope, owned by Andrew Silvaroli, were both honored.
In other Yelp news, R Town Pizza also hit spot number 44 on Yelpโs national Top Places to Eat in 2025 list. The recently closed Noodle Box Kitchen was number 86.
Batch Cupcakery
The South Reno location of Batch Cupcakery has closed after owner Ann Archer chose not to renew the lease on the South Creek address. Her Midtown Reno location, however, is still up and running with plenty of baked goods available for sale and classes and other events planned for the future.
Great Basin Brewing Co.โs Red Nose Holiday Wassail
As of Nov. 28, Great Basin Brewing Co.โs Red Nose Holiday Wassail is back in stock. And not only is the favorite holiday ale a hit amongst locals, it also took home gold in the herb and spice category at the Great American Beer Festival for the first time. The win was an honor not just for Great Basinโs owner, Mark Estee, but also for Brewmaster Aaron Halecky.
Los Chilaquiles Mexican Breakfast
A second location of Los Chilaquiles Mexican Breakfast is opening at the old Playfield location on Arlington Avenue in Reno. The announcement comes four years after their first location on North McCarran opened in December 2021. The family has yet to make an official announcement on social media, but a sign has gone up on the outside of the building announcing the second address.
Zagol
The owner of Zagol, Northern Nevada’s sole Ethiopian restaurant, announced plans to close the establishment on Jan. 28. After years of being unsuccessful in finding a successor for the business, Shita Yenenh, who has been operating Zagol alone for 15 years, has decided to close her doors for good. Stop by for one last meal 4 โ 8 p.m. Tues. โ Sat. in the Mira Loma shopping center in Reno.
Photos by Shea Evans from our story on Zagol in our Fall 2013 edition.
Asi Es Mi Terra
Tierra y Sazon is under new ownership. The Salvadoran restaurant at 1020 S. Wells Ave. in Reno, which operates under the name Asi Es Mi Terra, is part of the Reno Taco Trail and also serves pupusas, stewed chicken, tamales, and more. The new owners, according to Reno City Council meeting notes from Dec. 10, are Josue, Lillian, and Eva Guiterrez.
Segara Coffee
Reno resident Esther Singer is celebrating the grand opening of her new coffee company, Segara Coffee, on Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. at Sierra Nevada Bakery and Creamery in Reno. She focuses on sourcing single-origin beans from Southeast Asia.
Singer has a PhD in environmental science and applies her knowledge to work closely with farms in Indonesia and other locales, bringing her coffee products to the U.S. to sell at local events, online, and inside of Sierra Nevada Bakery and Creamery, where you can also get a fresh brewed cup. Segara is the Indonesian word for ocean.
ZLINE
ZLINE, headquartered in Reno, is expanding its Northern Nevada footprint. The kitchen appliance manufacturer creates ranges, hoods, refrigerators, microwaves, and accessories.
The expansion is the newest in a series, dating back to 2016 when ZLINE first opened on Parr Circle. Since then, several acquisitions have grown the company to a total 176,000 square feet of industrial space, including the newest 84,400-square-foot industrial building at 400 E. Parr Circle it just acquired. Its headquarters are on South Meadows Parkway.
ZLINE employs 150 people in Northern Nevada and 260 people nationwide with facilities in both Tennessee and Ohio.
The new space will allow for more inventory to be kept on site as well as an area to house returns, a process that previously took place at the Tennessee facility.
The new building not only increases the companyโs footprint but also decreases its carbon footprint. The additional space also aims to reduce costs related to tariffs.
Biggest Little Steakhouse
On Dec. 1, the owners of Biggest Little Steakhouse opened a second location at Northstar resort in Truckee. The first location is located on South Virginia Street in Midtown Reno.
Biggest Little Steakhouse is part of a larger restaurant group that also owns all Inclined Burgers + Brews restaurants in Reno and Incline Village.
Reno Food Systems
On Nov. 26, Reno Food Systems leaders announced a big expansion at the farm. Managers of the five-acre farm leased an additional 15-acre portion of Betsy Caughlin Donnelly Park on Mayberry Drive, and they now operate their nonprofit business on 20 total acres.
The additional acres procured by managers of the urban, regenerative demonstration farm will not only be used to grow perennial crops and fruit trees but will also include animal husbandry, regenerative grazing, and regenerative ranching.
The owners thanked Washoe County leaders for supporting their vision and announced that contributions to its annual campaign would benefit education surrounding best uses of the new land.
Nam-Vietnamese Kitchen
Nam-Vietnamese Kitchen, an eatery focused on Southern Vietnamese cuisine, opened on Nov. 28 in Carson City. It is owned by Liem Le, who previously owned Creazian and Pho Restaurant, both Vietnamese restaurants in Reno. Creazian closed in 2018 and Pho Restaurant near Target in South Reno is under new ownership. The menu includes pho, banh mi, flamed broiled BBQ, and several wok-made dishes.
OTC Reno
OTC Reno, the areaโs newest gay bar, opened on Nov. 15. While a grand opening is still in the works, the nightclub is serving patrons and active on social media.
The club is on Kietzke Lane in the same building that housed Coyote (a country bar that made it less than one year). Before that the space was home to Reno staples such as Splash, Tronix, Neutron, and Visions. OTC is run by one of the original owners of Coyote, Nicholas Dismang, who is also part-owner of The Polo Lounge since 2017.
Stop by for drink specials and high energy music, plus happy hour deals. Follow @otcreno on Instagram for more.
Stingers Golf Lounge
A new restaurant and entertainment center has landed in Zephyr Cove. Stingers Golf Lounge is part bar, part restaurant, part golf simulator. On Nov. 19 it opened to the public in the old Capisce location, offering an elevated menu of food and drinks, including a shareable Maui Poke Bowl, Chรจvre Goat Cheese and Spinach Ravioli, and a Huli-Huli Chicken Sando. Those who want to play on the golf simulators can book bays by the hour or sign up for a membership. The space also is open to private parties. Learn more or browse the menu at Stingersgolflounge.com.
Bearry Sweet & Early 90’s Coffee Shop
A pair of businesses recently opened at Ski Run Marina in South Lake Tahoe. Bearry Sweet sells a collection of house-made crepes, waffles, marquesitas, and mini pancakes while Early 90’s Coffee Shop sells Mexican Highlands coffee, pour-overs, teas, and infusions. The latter brings a distinct vibe, even offering a record player while the former has a create-your-own experience where guests pick their own toppings. Both shops, owned by wife-and-wife team Monserrath Mendoza and Lizet Pereyra, are connected to make ordering coffee and breakfast a seamless experience.ย Mendoza and Pereyra hail from Mexico City and bring some of that flavor to their high altitude businesses.
Dayton Taphouse
The Dayton Taphouse underwent an ownership change in September. Jessica Zaldana purchased the property on Sept. 7 and promptly closed it for two weeks for renovation before reopening on Sept. 20. While some of the employees are new, including Stephen Orlando, the new bar manager and bartender coming from a management position at Buckaroos Saloon in Gardnerville, regulars will recognize some familiar faces.
Zaldanaโs future plans include an expanded menu, more entertainment, an outdoor awning and stage deck, and several indoor improvements to feature the addition of a wedding venue.
