Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Oldest building in downtown Reno to be demolished

RENO — The oldest building in downtown Reno is doomed for demolition.

The Reno Gazette Journal reported on its web site Friday the 1872 Reno Mercantile and Masonic Lodge in the casino district has been found too unstable to save.

Plans call for it to be razed along with the former Old Reno casino and Vino's to make way for a Whitney Peak Hotel expansion.

The hotel's owner and developers plan to begin the $13 million construction on a new 90- to 100-room extended-stay hotel in their place.

Construction began on the Reno Mercantile building at 98 West Commercial Row in 1872. It's been vacant since the mid-1970s.

A date with the wrecking ball is expected next month.