Alright, just over to your right, what you’re looking at now goes by “Renaissance Reno”-but let’s just say it’s had a few identities over the years, a bit like someone trying on a new hat every decade or so.
It started out in 1956 as the Holiday, and, oddly enough for Reno, there was no casino. Yep, not the best move, considering the city’s reputation. Poor performance forced the owners to add gaming almost immediately-a bit like bringing soda to a party and realizing everyone wanted beer instead. Fast-forward to 1998, after 42 bumpy years, the Holiday closed its doors. Back then, they’d sunk about $16 to $20 million into upgrades-that’s more like $30 to $40 million today-and local investor Barney Ng essentially gutted the old girl and expanded her out.
She reemerged in 2001 as the Siena, looking all posh and promising big things. But the finances never quite checked in, and by 2010 the place was auctioned off for just $3.9 million. That’s about $5 million today-maybe enough to buy a condo and a couple of Teslas on the side. The new owners tried to inject fresh energy, ditching the faux Italian style for something more... “aggressive-contemporary,” or so the marketing copy said-think marble, LED lights, and art that demands an opinion.
Eventually, the casino lights went dark for good, and in 2017, the name changed again. Now it operates as a Renaissance Hotel, with a no-casino, upscale vibe that probably wouldn’t recognize its old self in the mirror.
Alright, when you’re ready, the Reno Main Post Office is a 2-minute stroll south. Let’s head that way.
