After 25 years, Eagle Valley Frames closing

Eagle Valley Frames, a fixture in Carson City for almost 25 years, is closing April 29. Owner Scott Leftwich said the loss of contract work at casinos and hotels, a market that never quite recovered following the Sept. 11 attacks, prompted the closure.

Contract work provided one-third of Eagle Valley's revenues.

"We were having a record year in 2001," he said. "We had $400,000 in design work lined up. After Sept. 11, we only did 10 percent of that work. The rest is on hold to this day."

The expansion of Indian gaming dealt another blow to the casino industry, which in turn hurt the shop's bottom line.

"The casinos used to upgrade their hotel rooms every three to four years. They don't do that anymore, and we haven't been able to replace that portion of our business," he said. "The Reno numbers for casinos are way down. Lake Tahoe's numbers are softer, but they aren't down."

Because Leftwich did contract work, he could buy in volume, which allowed him to offer substantially lower prices than competitors. When Douglas County businesses like Fast Frames and Michael's opened on "the hill," his business was not affected, he said.

"We've had a good relationship with a lot of people for a long time," he said. "I want to thank the people of Carson City for their patronage."

Two Reno Eagle Valley stores are also closing, at Park Lane Mall and Meadowood Mall.

Contact Susie Vasquez at svasquez@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.