Work has begun on a shopping center at Fernley, with the development's centerpiece a 25,000-square-foot bowling and recreation center slated to break ground this summer.
The project is developed by Main Towne Development LLC.
The development firm is owned by Wayne Baker, a principal in Aspen Engineering of Reno, and Joe Avilla of Reno's Avilla Construction.
Todd Thompson of Reno, a former professional bowler, will serve as operating partner of the bowling center when it opens.
The 21-lane bowling center one lane will be devoted to an instructional lane also will include a children's playland, two party rooms, a sports bar and a restaurant.All but the bar will be nonsmoking.
"The concept is to improve the state of bowling," said Baker, a longtime
bowler who has visited facilities across the nation.
Baker said the developers have heard strong interest from potential retail and office tenants of the 14,680-square-foot shopping center to be known as Fernley Commerce Center, but no leases have been signed.
Spaces as small as 1,200 square feet are available.
He noted the center on West Main Street is across a street from the Jackson Ranch subdivision, which is approved for more than 800 homes.
And the developers believe that the pace of residential development in western Fernley will pick up after lagging behind the eastern neighborhoods of the fast-growing city.
Main Towne Development purchased the 2.4-acre site about a year ago.
The shopping center shell is projected for completion in about 90 days, and work on the bowling and recreation center will begin once the center is done, Baker said.
Aloiau Architecture of Reno designed the project.
The bowling center is financed by a U.S.
Department of Agriculture rural development loan and a loan from Northern Nevada Bank.
The bank also financed the shopping center.
