Well known Nevada casino shuts after 43 years

Nevada landmark closes

Sharkey’s casino in Gardnerville northern Nevada has closed its door after being in the casino business for 43 years. Sharkey’s casino first opened in 1971 under the ownership of Milos “Sharkey” Begovich, which shut down at midnight on Saturday November 15, 2014. According to the notice found on the door, the casino is “temporarily closed”. The notice of the trustee’s sale in Gardnerville Nevada’s record Courier, states that the casino will go to action on December 4^th on the Douglas courthouse steps.

The casino owner, which is ‘Holder Hospitality Group’ filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April of 2013. County records show that the casino owes $3.8 million dollars to creditors. Among the creditors is a company called ‘Carson Valley Inn.’ There are also liens that were filed Friday against Holder for hospitality by ‘Kelly Steam Cleaning’ for the amount of $7,067 and the town of Gardnerville for trash service in the amount of $3,352.

Owner Hal Holder said he purchased Sharkey’s in 2002 on a handshake for $5 million dollars from Begovich. Holder announced that the casino has emerged from chapter 11 after a federal bankruptcy judge accepted the company’s plan Holder put together.

At the time of the court proceedings, Holder said that no employee had work hours released and no employee was laid off due to the filing of the bankruptcy and that all suppliers, venders and creditors were fully paid. He also claimed that the business had an improvement during the bankruptcy protection it was under for the eight month period and that capital improvements were expected to move forward.

The end of an era

Under Begovich’s ownership, the casino had an extensive collection of memorabilia that was displayed and was also a major supporter of community groups. There were over 1500 items displayed in the casino including boxing gloves and shoes worn by championship fighters in the 1900’s. There were paintings of Indians and Wild West figures and even silver plated saddles from the 1920’s which were all auctioned off after Begovich sold the casino.

It is sad time when you see this historic casino, one that has served a community for so many years, close their doors from the hard times that are put on businesses these days.