Sharkey's Casino Restaurant
When the “new” Sharkey’s Casino opens its doors for business today, patrons will be greeted by a new look that was blended with the old.
Online menus, items, descriptions and prices for Sharky’s Inc - Restaurant - Fort Pierce, FL 34949. Sharkey's Casino is a relatively small casino, with only a few gaming tables and 200 slot machines, along with the usual restaurant and bar. Sharkey Begovich was born in Plymouth, California on August 1, 1926, and died on August 9, 2002. He got his start in the gaming industry in Jackson, California, and later worked in, and then later.
For downtown Gardnerville, it marks the return of business to a landmark building that closed on Nov. 14, 2014, after becoming subject of a Trustee’s sale. Mike Pegram, principal owner of the Carson Valley Inn and Bodines casinos, purchased Sharkey’s at a public auction on Dec. 4.
The lights flashed on Wednesday night to provide a preview of the “new” Sharkey’s for an estimated 200 invited local guests and government officials. The building opened in 1945 as the Golden Bubble Casino and in 1971 was purchased by Sharkey Begovich, who renamed it Sharkey’s Nugget.
“Sharkey was a legend and it’s always good to open up a place that has the reputation that Sharkey had,” Pegram said. “We’re just excited and honored to carry on his legend.”
More than 200 slots, a sports book and the Silver Dollar Bar are now open. The Jackpot Café is scheduled to open soon, according to Carson Valley Inn Marketing Director Bill Henderson.
The Sharkey’s building has gone through a complete remodel, however, some of the old remains.
“That’s what’s so nice about this,” Pegram said. “If you look up at the ceiling, that (material) was Sharkey’s walls when we took over. And the wood floor, that was always here, it just had carpet over it. All the exposed brick in the building was brick that was always here, it was just covered up. So we’re just trying to bring back the old and marry it with the new.”
Shirley Lekumbery-Frazier, who has lived in Carson Valley since 1957, was excited about the look and the atmosphere.
“I’m absolutely thrilled; I have always loved Sharkey’s,” she said. “I like the homey atmosphere here and it’s absolutely beautiful.”
Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bill Chernock expressed his excitement about the reopening and what that means to the community.
“It’s going to bring energy down to this part of 395 at all hours,” he said. “I think a lot of the locals who are down here kind of miss having this place to go to. I think once they come in, it will be like they never left, and they’re going to love it. And once the visitors discover this, it’s going to be hard to find a seat in that restaurant.”
Gardnerville Town Board member Linda Slater echoed those feelings.
“They’ve done a fabulous job,” she said. “I just think it’s a real positive for Gardnerville. This is going to revitalize the downtown area.
“All the old pictures, I’m so glad they were able to get some of those back,” she added.
Henderson noted that the blend of old and new was designed. For example, one of the old Sharkey’s street signs can now be seen overlooking the Silver Dollar Bar at the center of the casino floor. Larry Henry, the architect for the Sharkey’s remodel — and previously architect for the Carson Valley Inn and Bodines — is also doing murals that will eventually be on the outside, honoring Gardnerville as a historic landmark.
Markus Zinke, owner of Mark’s Cabinets and a lifelong Carson Valley resident, was involved with some of the woodworking efforts that took place inside the casino.
“I took pride in getting to work on this stuff; it was real fun, absolutely,” he said. “Obviously, they used a lot of the old signs and a lot of the old memorabilia, which is the flare of Sharkey’s back in the day. That’s what people remember.”
Zinke pointed out, for example, the hardwood floor surrounding the bar area.
“They lifted up the carpet and they found solid 4×4,” he said. “They just sanded it down and worked some of the sawdust back in it to keep the old look.”
Another example can be seen in the Jackpot Café. Some of the small dining tables from the old Sharkey’s restaurant have been returned. And wood was crafted from old tables to create a top for those who eat at the counter.
“Most everything is new, actually,” he added. “The architect had some pretty good ideas of making it look old with the different types of paint and design.”
Pegram noted that even though he didn’t favor taking down the Pyrenees Hotel building — to create parking on the southeast side of Sharkey’s — brick from that old building will be used to construct a decorative wall along Highway 395.
“There was a lot of work, and we were fortunate to have a great contractor, a great designer and a great team that built it,” he said. “They had the vision and I’m just lucky to be part of it.”
Slater acknowledged that the end product was what she had hoped for, and gave credit to Pegram.
“I was thrilled when I heard Mike was coming in here,” she said. “I knew he was going to do a good job … Mike is such a community oriented man wherever he goes.”
Needless to say, this was not an inexpensive project.
“It wasn’t, but you know what, it’s not very often you get an opportunity to take something that’s an icon,” Pegram said. “We just kind of polished it up a little bit.”
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About
The legend lives on.
Before its purchase in 1971 by Milos 'Sharkey' Begovich, Sharkey’s was a landmark property with a colorful history. The “corner saloon” was originally constructed in the late 1890s. The surrounding buildings included a drug store, blacksmith shop, and mortuary at that time. C.M. Krummes operated the blacksmith shop and mortuary, and served as the first chairman of Gardnerville town board in the early 1900s. After it's purchase by Mr. Begovich, Sharkey’s quickly gained a reputation for serving the best prime rib in Northern Nevada as well as being the locals casino.Milos “Sharkey” Begovich is as much a part of the history of the Nevada gaming as the building is. Former part owner of the South Tahoe Nugget, Sharkey loved the old West and built an unofficial 'museum' of Western artifacts and memorabilia on display. Sharkey was one of the pioneers of Northern Nevada gaming, counting among his many friends: Bill Harrah, Charlie Mapes, and Harvey Gross.