RENO (AP) - The owners of a Triple-A baseball team expect to have an entertainment complex finished by opening day that features a beer garden, Mexican restaurant and sports bar overlooking Reno Aces Ballpark.
The steel framework already is in place for the 30,000-square-foot, two-story building. It is expected to cost as much as $12 million and is scheduled to be completed by April, said Stuart Katzoff, managing partner for SK Baseball.
The project will anchor a Freight House Entertainment District that could eventually extend to Virginia Street.
More than 500,000 people came out for baseball last season, and Katzoff said he wants to see them back next year.
"We think it's good fit," he said.
Reno Mayor Bob Cashell said the city is fortunate to have major national developers building downtown during the economic downturn.
"We need to court these guys, but not give them the store," he said. "If we run them off, my 5-year-old granddaughter won't live to see another major developer downtown."
Cashell said the first phase of the project will generate about 150 permanent jobs.
About 100 construction workers were put to work on Sept. 8., when the project began.
Katzoff said the Arroyo Mexican Grill will be operated in partnership with SK Baseball, which owns the stadium and the Freight House project. He said the partnership will operate the other bars and restaurants since he and his father, Jerry, are in the restaurant business.
The Katzoffs own a string of upscale Italian restaurants based in New York City.
Herb Simon, the third partner, and his late brother, Mel, founded an Indianapolis real estate investment company that eventually became the No. 1 mall owner in the country. Simon also owns the Indianapolis Pacers basketball team.