Small favor by coach lands plum of a job

Simply by doing someone a small favor, Dennis Banks got a big project in return.

Banks, developer and contractor for Dennis Banks Construction, is responsible for building the plush new Plumgate Shopping Center at the southeast corner of Arlington Street and Plumb Avenue for the property's owner, Mary Bletcher.

Banks is a former assistant baseball coach at Galena High School, where one of his pupils was Bletcher's grandson, Joey Hooft, a former Nevada High School Baseball Player of the Year.

Banks was very instrumental in helping Hooft earn a baseball scholarship to the University of Miami in Florida.

Thankful for his help and also pleased with his resume as a contractor, Bletcher asked Banks to develop the land for her.

"I'm really thrilled to be in partnership with him," Bletcher said.

"I've seen his track record and I was very impressed." Other notable projects that Baker and his company have done are the Silverado Hotel in Fernley and the Longley West Plaza in Reno, plus many custom homes and the majority of convenience stores and gas stations in the area.

The 83-year old Bletcher had long anticipated having the land developed.

A long-time resident of Reno, Bletcher and her late husband William acquired the property in 1959.

Although she'd received plenty of offers to develop the land over the years, Bletcher said she wanted to hold out for the best situation.

"Everyone wanted a piece of that property," Bletcher said.

"No disrespect to anyone, but I wanted to wait for the right person to develop the property." The new complex will feature two retail business buildings and three office buildings covering a total of 70,000 square feet.

Three of the buildings have already been built with the remaining two set to begin construction this month.

In addition, Banks is hopeful that eventually a 3,500 square foot bar and restaurant will be included in the facility.

Banks estimates the cost of the construction project at approximately $3 million; Bletcher said she has never put a price on the property itself.

"We're still finalizing the land value," Banks said.

"We still have to find out what the raw dirt is worth." The corner has a heavy dose of traffic and three accessible entrances and exits.

Over half of the available office space and most of the retail space has already been rented.

Two establishments, Lodo Loft, a clothing store, and Charmed, I'm Sure, have been in business at the complex since the middle of December.

"We had to really rush and push to get businesses in there for the busy season," Banks said.

"The stores that were open for business did extremely well," he added.

Christy Hall, who along with her husband Mike, owns Charmed, I'm Sure, is both satisfied and optimistic about the location's potential.

The couple's shop specializes in selling handbags, charm bracelets and candles.

The year-old business has another shop in the Meadowood Mall and various other locations in the United States.

"We were really happy with the (business during) Christmas holiday," Hall said.

"We're real pleased with our space.

It's a great location and we anticipate business picking up once more businesses move in." Several other businesses have requested bids to move into the facility, including established franchises Starbucks and Mailboxes Etc.

These businesses will mostly likely be in place sometime in February.

"There's a nice mix of business," Banks said.

One concern that both Banks and Bletcher had was how the neighborhood would react to shopping center in the area and how it would affect them.

However, Banks noted that public response has been positive towards the project at the planning meetings.

"Several neighbors were on record as saying how pleased they were with the project," Banks said.

Bletcher said having the land finally developed is a dream come true.

"I feel fortunate that I've lived this long to see it developed."