National chains interested in opening in Carson Valley

New businesses have chosen to come to Carson Valley - not only to the big shopping centers at the north end of Douglas County but to the heart of Minden and Gardnerville.

Among them are national store chains Walgreen's and Long's drug stores, Big 5 Sporting Goods and Dollar Tree.

Work has started at the corner of Highway 395 and Waterloo for a new Walgreen's Drug Store.

"We do plan to open a Walgreen's in Gardnerville, probably in March, 2007," said Walgreen's media representative Carol Hizely.

"Right now in the state of Nevada, we have 59 stores. It looks like this one will be a typical new Walgreen's store with a drive-through pharmacy window in a 14,800 square foot building."

Space is planned for a Long's Drug Store at the corner of highways 395 and 88.

There is no estimated time for completion.

The nearest Long's is at 3240 Highway 50 East in Carson City.

A sign advertising a Big 5 Sporting Goods store is up at 1770 Highway 395 in Minden. A company representative said work isn't scheduled to start to remodel the store space until at least the end of August.

Big 5 operates 329 stores in 10 western states and offers athletic shoes, apparel and accessories, and a broad selection of athletic equipment for team sports, fitness, camping, hunting, fishing, tennis, golf, snowboarding and in-line skating.

There are Big 5 stores in Reno and at the north end of Carson City.

A Dollar Tree store is set to open next door to the Big 5 site in the space formerly occupied by Winan's Furniture. Employees are being hired and stock is being put on the shelves.

Dollar Tree stores are in all 48 contiguous state. The next closest store is in the Northgate Shopping Center in Carson City.

The store offers new items weekly - toys, hardware, health and beauty products, household items, party supplies, kitchen essentials - all for a dollar each.

Skip Sayre, executive director of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Authority, credited the Northern Nevada Development Authority.

"They're the folks who talk to big companies like Starbuck's and Wal-Mart," said Sayre. "They talk to the county and at the appropriate time they'll come to us in Douglas County."