Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Tim and Cheryl McConnell work at their Lefty's Burgers-N-Such in downtown Carson City on Monday afternoon. The couple is opening a new restaurant, Lefty's Comstock Diner, at the Comstock Casino on Goni Road.
Tim and Cheryl McConnell, owners of Lefty's Burgers & Such in Carson City, are expanding their business into Comstock Casino. Lefty's Comstock Diner will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
"We're going to offer good old-fashioned home cooking for those who don't want to cook at home," Tim McConnell said.
At 3680 Goni Road in Carson City, the Comstock is expected to open in early June. A grand opening is scheduled for early July.
It will be business as usual at Lefty's Burgers, which the McConnells have operated for about two years.
"I'm a multi-unit manager, and when my wife and I decided to open Lefty's, we knew we wanted more than one," he said. "The diner is something we've talked about for a long time, and now we're getting that chance."
Tim McConnell previously worked for a number of restaurants, including City Cafe Bakery and Heidi's in Carson City. The McConnells struck out on their own after more than 25 years in the business.
"I'm putting in a lot of hours, but I find working for myself less stressful," he said. "We're still having a lot of fun doing this. When it's not fun anymore, we'll find something else to do."
McConnell is joining partners Scott Tate and Gene Wallace in the new 10,000-square-foot casino, which will include 100 slot machines, a bar and an arcade for children. The casino will reflect the historic Comstock Lode era, with pictures of Virginia City's boom time digitally enhanced and displayed on the walls.
Originally from Mississippi, Tate is a certified public accountant. He worked for the Ernst & Young accounting firm for five years, auditing casinos in Reno and Las Vegas before deciding to get into the casino business.
"I enjoy working in casino development and the people I meet through this business," he said.
He owns the Fallon Nugget, the Bonanza Inn and Casino in Fallon, and the Silver Springs Nugget in Silver Springs. He's been in the gaming business for 14 years, and in Fallon for nine years.
Wallace purchased Cheers after owning and operating a cocktail bar in Hayward, Calif., for 20 years. He moved Cheers to the new casino's location on Goni Road in 1994 after Hot Springs became a dead end, significantly reducing traffic along that corridor.
Tate became a partner in the business in September.
Contact Susie Vasquez at svasquez@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
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