Here in economic development at the Downtown Reno Partnership, we like to say that we have more momentum coming out of the pandemic than we did going into it. More than just development and property sales, we are also seeing a lot of new businesses opening up. Here are 15 new establishments you should know about. Biggest Little Boba Shop (100 N. Arlington Ave.): Opened in a vacant coffee shop space on the ground floor of Arlington Towers after being purchased by the wife of Hookava’s owner. What is boba? It’s delicious! Milky tea and chewy tapioca balls with plenty of other innovations and topping options. Playfield ‘76 (150 N. Arlington Ave.): Coming soon! A complete renovation of the former Imperial Bar and Lounge space. The new owner optimized the floor space by removing the giant rectangle bar in the center and building a new bar against the south wall. It feels so much roomier, and with all that extra space, they put in a bunch of your favorite arcade games. This new attraction is an awesome addition to downtown and provides a space for arcade game lovers, young and old, to gather. Reno Fine Arts Collective (200 S. Virginia St.): Most great downtowns have retail art galleries, and now we have one too! They are located on the ground floor of the Chase building with over 5,000 square feet of gallery space. It’s free to visit and browse, and every Friday from 4-7 p.m. they do talks, featuring local artists. Masque (229 N. Virginia St.): A unique New Orleans-style lounge in a historic space with a balcony overlooking Virginia Street and the world-famous Reno Arch. Currently they offer music, dancing and drinks, with Creole cuisine coming soon. Matador Lounge (445 California Ave.): Classy remodel of a well-known downtown spot. The former Saint James Infirmary has been updated to include speakeasy-style booths and a beautified rooftop bar and seating area. They kept the stage and got rid of the neon. Anyone know what happened to the “Reno Society” sign? The Coconut (170 S. Virginia St.): A new Thai food spot right next to the Pioneer Theater. Features a large dining area with big windows that create a bright open space to enjoy some great food. Our staff can be found there frequently. Bar N’ Games (594 Lake St.): Coming soon — 10,000 square feet of bar, board games, private gaming rooms, theme nights, cosplay, pop culture, jokes, fun and drinks! They have a GoFundMe page for you to help them open sooner: gofund.me/789d15ae. Replenish Reno Refillery & Apothecary (50 S. Virginia St.): The shops at The Basement wouldn’t be complete without an apothecary, and at Replenish, you can practice sustainability with their many refill products. Babes Beautique (50 S. Virginia St.): Offering a variety of body sculpting services by appointment only. The owner, Candy, is a passionate beauty professional who began her business to help women and men achieve their body goals. Wide Canvas Interior Design (50 S. Virginia St.): Check out their showroom and shop for premium interior design services and products. They feature custom bathroom and kitchen cabinets, unique tile and exquisite plumbing, usually reserved for designers. Vida Coffee (50 S. Virginia St.): New owners completed a rebrand and remodel of the former Global Coffee space. They offer a variety of specialty drinks and coffee classics along with some great photo opportunities. The Basement has a welcoming common area that can be used to enjoy your food and beverages while you’re studying, working or socializing. Earthly Subs (50 S. Virginia St.): Grab a quick hoagie for lunch from the visionaries who brought you Seven Troughs Distilling — located directly across in The Basement. They also have homemade cookies, soups and salads. The Biggest Little Sushi Bar (400 W. 5th St.): New owners and new brand of the former Sushi Lover spot. They offer classic sushi, unique specialty rolls, combo special deals, all you can eat, a la carte, entrees and an innovative dessert menu. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Reno Brow Chick (46 W. 1st St.): Opened just two weeks before being shut down by the pandemic, they’ve built out a beautiful space on the ground floor of the masonic building. They provide microblading services and training. Have an idea for a complimentary business? There is space available directly next door. The Glow Plaza (670 W. 4th St.): Music venue with neon signs, food trucks and free concerts every weekend until mid-September. Jacobs Entertainment has created this space to provide a taste of what’s to come. Checkout their website for schedule of events: theglowplaza.com. As you can see, there are a lot of new offerings downtown, and we expect that momentum to continue for the foreseeable future. From activities and attractions to art and food, we’re experiencing a strong transformation that has been years in the making. If you know of anything that we missed on our list, or plan to open a new downtown business, please send us a note. “What’s Up Downtown” is a monthly Voices column in the NNBW typically authored by Alex Stettinski, executive director of the Downtown Reno Partnership. This month’s column was written by DRP Economic Development Manager Nathan Digangi. Reach him at ndigangi@downtownreno.org.
