Winchester Club could open Wednesday

The Winchester Club, a 5,000-square-foot gaming parlor on Curry Street across from the Ormsby House, is tentatively set to open Wednesday.

"It's what I would call a soft opening," said Larry Tiller, project general manager. "With these things, there can always be a last-minute hitch, so we're not going to make a big splash on opening day. Once we get the bugs worked out, we'll put a grand opening together."

Designed as an addition to the Ormsby House, the facility on the first floor of the parking garage includes a large, U-shaped cherrywood bar, slate tile in the bathrooms and slot machines.

"Eventually, we're going to have special cabinets to display our Winchester gun collection," Tiller said earlier. "We want to get something open and get some business back into this community. I think this is something Carson City needs. The community is waiting to see a nice facility here."

The landmark Ormsby House has been closed since October 2000 for a major renovation. Renovation of its main building is still under way.

Tiller said the bridge foundation linking the parking garage to the main building is completed, and Curry Street could reopen as early as Monday.

"We'll probably close Curry Street intermittently until construction is completed, but right now we're almost ready to reopen," he said.

The new Ormsby House will include an expanded lobby, a steakhouse, coffee shop, a buffet restaurant and facilities for banquets and conventions. A small bar resembling the Ormsby's Old Corner Bar will be relocated to the southeast corner of the building, and the hotel's 200 rooms will be transformed into 130 suites.