Doppelganger's recommended for state gaming license

A downtown Carson City restaurant and brewpub won a recommendation Wednesday for an unrestricted slot license from the state Gaming Control Board.

The recommendation for Doppelganger's bar and grill on Carson Street will be presented later this month to the Gaming Commission, which makes the final decision on gaming applications.

General Manager John Sieben said the license is part of an overall business plan designed to turn the former sports bar into a more upscale operation.

"In the past, the concept was to be a sports bar," Sieben told the board. "We're looking at the property from a different perspective."

He said they want to focus more on becoming a "more upscale eatery." But, he said, after the restaurant shuts down at 10 p.m. Doppelganger's turns into a bar with karaoke, disc jockeys and live music on different nights.

He said they are increasing the focus on the brewery inside the building, which is capable of producing 5,000 kegs of beer a year.

While most of that is served at their own bar, Sieben said they are selling three of nine different brews - Battle Born Blonde, Genoa Pale Ale and Nevada Amber - to other bars in the Reno-Carson City-Minden area. Already, they have 26 customers for their handcrafted beers.

In addition, he said they have added a pizzeria, with plans to begin delivering in Carson City, and have completed the patio bar in the back of the building.

A ribbon cutting for the patio is set Friday at 6 p.m.

Doppelganger's was purchased last year from the Stewart family, which restored the former Lucky Spur after it had been closed down some two decades. But Stew's Lucky Spur ran into financial hard times. Alan Howard Adams, who with his brother owns the Carson Nugget across the street, bought the property last year.

At this point, Sieben said they intend to keep a slot route operator to provide the gambling so they can concentrate on other aspects of the business. Their license will permit up to 17 machines and can be increased if business warrants it.

Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander wished Adams and Sieben luck with the project.

"Mr. Adams always has had an interest in revitalizing that part of downtown and this goes a long way toward that goal," he said.

Doppelganger's is on today's Board of Supervisors agenda with an application for $100,000 in redevelopment money from the city.

The board also recommended approval of Brandywine Bookmaking, a new company, to operate sports and racebooks in Elko and Reno. Wednesday's board vote would allow them to operate a sports book at the High Desert Inn in Elko and a full sports and racebook at Elko's Red Lion. It would also manage the sports and racebook operation at Reno's Grand Sierra Resort.

But Brandywine, according to owner/manager Joe Asher, has also filed an application to run the sports and racebook operation at Carson City's Casino Fandango. That application will be heard at a later date.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.