Carson City Horseshoe Club plans to reopen, but is up for sale

The Carson Horseshoe Club closed because of a “last minute” decision and reopening awaits work on operational changes complicated by hopes of selling the property and business.

So said Jeannette Kelley, general manager and part owner of the casino at 402 N. Carson St., in a Thursday statement. It included the property and business are on the market and word realty brokers are “currently in negotiations with interested parties” while still seeking offers.

“It is challenging to make decisions regarding changes to the operations in anticipation of what a new owner would prefer,” according to Kelley’s statement. The asking price through John Uhart Commercial Real Estate Services is pegged at $3.75 million, which includes the 15,300 square foot building downtown, pertinent licenses, all fixtures and 125 gaming devices. The property is on the northwest corner of North Carson and West Telegraph streets.

Should the property and business fetch that much, the price per square foot of real property would be $245.10.

Kelley said some employees came to work Tuesday, the day signs went about stating the temporary closure, but not for servicing customers. She said it’s difficult to say when doors to customers are reopening, but termed everything operational “with all licenses in place for when the proper time to reopen to the public has been determined.”

The Carson Horseshoe Club firm, which does business under that name but actually is Nevada Treasure Chest, Inc., has been downtown since the 1970s. It was opened in the early 1970s by Gene Chaney. It’s currently owned by his five adult children, two of whom grew up in Nevada’s capital city and operate the firm.

Samuel Douglass of the Uhart commercial real estate firm talked of both the negotiations and the fact “we are definitely actively soliciting offers.” He said the listing has been with the brokerage since mid-2014.

Tuesday’s closure prompted puzzlement and concern among some employees who hadn’t been informed. It also led to telephone calls from the Nevada Appeal both Tuesday and Wednesday, but no connection could be made with Kelley until Thursday. The first contact was through Douglass and preceded the prepared statement.

“In light of the publicity,” she said, “this occurrence has shown that Carson City is truly a small, caring community.” Kelley said, adding messages, e-mails and telephone calls included concerns for Horseshoe personnel. She said it shows customers and others care about small businesses and those locally who operate them.

The club includes not only the casino, but a bar and restaurant on the main floor, and the second story includes offices and living space.