Whispers and whiskey at Fallon’s hidden speakeasy.
Often hidden behind unmarked doors and perhaps requiring whispered passwords, modern speakeasies offer a nostalgic glimpse into the country’s Prohibition era. These clandestine bars blend the décor of the Roaring ‘20s with period cocktails, music, and effects, creating an atmosphere of mystery and excitement.
C&C Social Club in Fallon is such a place. Hidden away in the back of the Cranberry Cottage (a well-known local vintage and craft store) is a secret door designed to look like a bookcase. Upon entering, guests are immediately transported back to the 1920s. Dim lighting, antique furnishings, and bartenders in wing-collar shirts serve to reinforce the notion of a secret place, one where you are a part of something hush-hush.
In July 2023, Bret and Pam Yost, fifth-generation Fallonites, purchased the old Churchill Bank building (c. 1904) and installed their Cranberry Cottage store. “The Cottage,” as it became known, turned into a social hub for the town, hosting popular weekly gatherings and patio parties. But the new location also allowed the Yosts to expand on the business’ reputation and create something special.
“The vision was to create a hidden jewel for the community,” Pam says, “[with] craft cocktails, music, and fun in a space that was truly memorable.”
C&C is all of that and more. The room is elegant and filled with vintage furnishings central to the period. Pam herself hand-textured and painted the walls in earthy, dark tones, adding an elegant backdrop. Antique tobacco-drying racks hang from the ceiling, and custom lamps (some made from old Model A wheels) abound. Old doors, pillars, and other reclaimed pieces of Nevada history populate the space, adding a welcome connection to a bygone era. The bar itself is magnificent and made of hand-hewn redwood, its polish adding a sumptuous elegance to the space. Eucalyptus planks adorn the back of the bar, which is accented with copper pieces, valves, and gauges cut from an old boiler found under the building. Polished but with just the right amount of patina, these pieces add to a crafted effect that is, in a word, stunning.
Drinks run the gamut from expertly crafted versions of speakeasy classics such as the old fashioned to some lesser-known drinks, such as the silk stocking. Local spirits from Frey Ranch Distillery and Verdi Local Distillery are prominently featured.
Weather permitting, the building’s wonderful patio space often hosts local musicians, entertaining the crowd and contributing to the sense of community, which, for Pam, was a big part of the vision for the business.
“The goal was to bring people down to Maine Street,” she says.
She adds that her hope is that locals and visitors alike stay and shop downtown, helping other local businesses, too.
Whether you’re looking to step back in time or just enjoy a fun and extraordinary night out, C&C Social Club is just a secret door away.
C&C Social Club
143 S. Maine St., Fallon
775-427-5079 · Find Cranberry Cottage on Facebook
