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Shannon Litz/The R-C History: Chris Plummer and Bryan Davis are the new owners of the Valley Bar.
Patrons can expect a new sign at Valley Bar on Highway 88 and Centerville Lane, but not much else will change according to new owners, Chris Plummer and Bryan Davis.
"The inside is the history of this place," said Plummer. "This is why people come in. A lot of bars spend a lot of money to make it look like the Old West."
Plummer, 31, of Indian Hills, and Davis, 34, of Minden, take over the historic tavern on Monday.
The barroom was brought over from Virginia City in the early 1930s. The painted wooden walls are the same ones shown in a photo behind the bar. Taken in 1935, this early picture shows a photograph of Franklin Delano Roosevelt hanging over the bar.
Inside its two rooms are an upright piano, a juke box, a billiard table, other artifacts and many photos and pictures from over the years, including a couple nude paintings.
The middle wall has an opening through it, allowing customers to be served from counters in both rooms.
The single-story saloon has been a Carson Valley landmark since it was established in Gardnerville in 1938.
Davis, who grew up in Gardnerville, said he remembers seeing the Valley Bar all his life.
"I've been driving past this place for years," said Davis.
Davis' parents live in the Gardnerville Ranchos. He said his dad came in the bar for the first time recently and recognized a few of the customers.
The location makes it easy for people driving by to stop in and clubs meet there on a regular basis, he said.
Davis would like to follow in current owner Ellis Spooner's footsteps.
"Ellis has done a great job of keeping it local," said Davis. "We'd like to continue that."
Valley Bar from the outside looks smaller than on the inside. Outside, the paint is peeling, but Davis said they don't have any plans to paint it yet.
"We're not sure if we want to paint it," said Davis. "It might take away from it."
The two men plan to fix it up as little as possible. Inside they want to add an expanded beverage selection, happy hours, more seating and 11 progressive video poker machines by the end of the summer, but want to keep the rustic flavor, including the old floor tiles that are coming up in the pool room.
Outside they want to put in a new sign, clean up the area for horseshoes and a dog-friendly patio and put in outdoor seating.
"The views from here are incredible," said Plummer.
"None of these changes will take away from the history and atmosphere associated with the Valley Bar," said Davis.
Plummer said he hopes people will consider Valley Bar a friendly place to stop for a drink, or ...
The location makes it easy for people driving by to stop in and clubs meet there on a regular basis, he said.
Davis would like to follow in current owner Ellis Spooner's footsteps.
"Ellis has done a great job of keeping it local," said Davis. "We'd like to continue that."
Valley Bar from the outside looks smaller than on the inside. Outside, the paint is peeling, but Davis said they don't have any plans to paint it yet.
"We're not sure if we want to paint it," said Davis. "It might take away from it."
The two men plan to fix it up as little as possible. Inside they want to add an expanded beverage selection, happy hours, more seating and 11 progressive video poker machines by the end of the summer, but want to keep the rustic flavor, including the old floor tiles that are coming up in the pool room.
Outside they want to put in a new sign, clean up the area for horseshoes and a dog-friendly patio and put in outdoor seating.
"The views from here are incredible," said Plummer.
"None of these changes will take away from the history and atmosphere associated with the Valley Bar," said Davis.
Plummer said he hopes people will consider Valley Bar a friendly place to stop for a drink, or ...
"If people want directions or to use the bathroom, we're going to let them in," said Plummer. "It's the gateway to the Valley. We want them to feel welcome."
Many customers have been coming to the bar for decades and Davis said so far everyone has accepted them.
"We haven't had any problems," said Davis. "Everyone's been extremely friendly."
Plummer and Davis plan to keep on the four employees.
"They know the crowd," said Davis. "We're going to learn from them. It will help keep it continuing on as it has."
Both men are married and will soon be fathers.
Davis' wife of three years, Cathy, is an account executive at Smith and Jones in Incline Village.
Plummer's wife of two years, Eileen, is a kindergarten teacher in the Carson City School District.
Davis graduated from Douglas High School and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Plummer graduated from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania.
Plummer and Davis met on the job. The two plan to keep their current positions at Caesars Tahoe where Plummer is the marketing manager and Davis is the entertainment and events manager.
"This was a chance to do what we do on a small scale," said Davis. "I look at it as an opportunity."
Many customers have been coming to the bar for decades and Davis said so far everyone has accepted them.
"We haven't had any problems," said Davis. "Everyone's been extremely friendly."
Plummer and Davis plan to keep on the four employees.
"They know the crowd," said Davis. "We're going to learn from them. It will help keep it continuing on as it has."
Both men are married and will soon be fathers.
Davis' wife of three years, Cathy, is an account executive at Smith and Jones in Incline Village.
Plummer's wife of two years, Eileen, is a kindergarten teacher in the Carson City School District.
Davis graduated from Douglas High School and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Plummer graduated from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania.
Plummer and Davis met on the job. The two plan to keep their current positions at Caesars Tahoe where Plummer is the marketing manager and Davis is the entertainment and events manager.
"This was a chance to do what we do on a small scale," said Davis. "I look at it as an opportunity."
"We're bringing a new generation to the Valley Bar," said Plummer.
They said the current owner, Spooner, is retiring to go fishing.
The Valley Bar is located at 900 Centerville Lane. Call 265-2364 or e-mail at valleybar@charter.net for more information.
-- Jo Rafferty can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 213.
Details:
What: Valley Bar
Who: Owners Bryan Davis and Chris Plummer
Where: Corner of Highway 88 and Centerville Lane
Info: 265-2364 or e-mail valleybar@charter.net
They said the current owner, Spooner, is retiring to go fishing.
The Valley Bar is located at 900 Centerville Lane. Call 265-2364 or e-mail at valleybar@charter.net for more information.
-- Jo Rafferty can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 213.
Details:
What: Valley Bar
Who: Owners Bryan Davis and Chris Plummer
Where: Corner of Highway 88 and Centerville Lane
Info: 265-2364 or e-mail valleybar@charter.net
