Tribune/Debra Reid - Matt Riley, Shanti Wolfe, Eliseo Gonzales, Kalie Mouilso, Irene Mercer and other volunteers held the names of 48 stores to open this summer at the Legends at Sparks Marina. The retail complex is scheduled to open June 18.
“I’m overwhelmed ... so many people have stepped up and caught the vision,” said Steve Graham, RED Development’s vice president of destination development.
Legends officially opens with a ribbon-cutting on June 18 and will kick off a series of free summer music concerts. The Grand Opening Celebration Week begins July 31 and lasts through Aug. 1 with other special events, concerts and activities for shoppers.
Legends general manager Dennis McGovern also announced that there will be a job fair on May 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Businesses from the destination retail center will offer 700 much-needed jobs. Representatives at the fair will accept resumes and applications, McGovern said.
“This will be the second step in rebuilding the northern Nevada economy,” McGovern said. “We have made incredible leaps in the first phase.”
The workforce will continue to enjoy a boost of 7,600 construction jobs as the project is completed over the next six years, and an economic output of $789 million. McGovern said that will generate $415 million a year for 20 years, or $8.3 billion. About 800,000 visitors annually are anticipated to come into Sparks because of the center.
Sparks City Council members addressed a pall of naysayers who oppose the project and said many of the project’s “hurdles,” including the Sales Tax Anticipated Revenue (STAR) bonds that are financing the project, should be put aside in the light of the greater goals of bringing the $1.2 billion retail center to Sparks.
“I say just get over it,” Martini said. “What better time than mid-June to open this? I look at Scheels. It’s unbelievable to me.”
Councilman Mike Carrigan, a self-described “numbers person,” said despite the badmouthing about the project, a look at the recent tax revenues would show that from Scheels All-Sports, which opened in September, is not causing its competitors to struggle.
“Every two weeks we get the sales tax report,” Carrigan said. “The great news is other sporting goods stores are not suffering. People are still shopping.”
Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority president and CEO Ellen Oppenheim said the center will satisfy two of the greatest activities of tourists who come to the region in Sparks.
“Shopping and dining are virtually what everyone does,” Oppenheim said. “This projects brings tremendous new assets and we will help support the tremendous vision and tenacity you have.”
Legends tenants announced Wednesday that will be new to the area include Converse, Guess Factory Store, Fuddruckers, Kenneth Cole, Michael Kors, Bose Factory Store and Volcom.
Councilman Ron Schmitt said he considers Legends as part of a storybook about Sparks and urged the public not to consider to project to be a failure before it even opens.
“This is part of a wonderful story,” Schmitt said. “This will be a novel for years to come.”
For more information, visit www.experiencelegends.com.
2. Imax theater is still on the docket according to the web site.
3. I've been to Jazz/Scheels at least once a week since the places opened... and they are always packed... some people always just have negative things to say!