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usinesses deal with tough times in different ways. For some, it's time to cut back where possible. For others, there is opportunities to be had.
One of those opportunities is taking advantage of lower construction costs to improve one's business, as can be seen happening at several places in Carson City.
The Southgate Center, suffering from the exodus of businesses that began with the Wal-Mart store moving to Douglas County, is undergoing a $400,000 facelift in hopes of attracting new tenants.
"We have been struggling like every other shopping center in the area competing for retailers, and there are not a lot who are expanding," said Shelly Aldean, owner of the Glenbrook Company, and one of five owners of building space in the center. "Shopping centers have to reinvent themselves every 10 years, so we are making the facades a little more trendy and try to be more consistent of the architecture of JC Penny's and the Burlington building."
Across the street, Casino Fandango recently painted its exterior structures to blend them all together.
"The new paint job makes this whole area one destination instead of three separate and distinct entities," said Ronni Hannaman, executive director of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce. "The Tuscany colors add a soft touch and creates a resort feel in this sparse high desert environment."
The Applebee's restaurant on South Carson has also been undergoing a facelift inside and out for the past several months, topped off with the installation of a new sign on Thursday.
And the City Center development at East William and Stewart street was updated with a new stonework façades earlier this summer.
"To compete with south Reno shopping and the new Legends, Carson City must upgrade its image to attract retail," Hannaman said. "And, this is the time to do it, when it has become more affordable."