Reno, NEV – (Feb. 21): After a recent rise in the rent, the Candy Barrel, located in the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino(GSR), has closed its business.
This family owned candy store has been in the same location for over 35 years since the grounds that the GSR currently lies on started out as the MGM Grand. Recently, the Grand Sierra Resort raised rent for all of its tenants. This change affected one business in particular causing them to close their doors for good. The casino plans on opening its own candy store right across the hall of the late Candy Barrel.
The store closure will leave Betty Tobey, owner of the Candy Barrel, and her six employees without jobs and Tobey isn’t happy to see her business go.
“It’s sad. It’s my family business,” said Tobey.
• Fun Quest
• The Ultimate Rush
• The Beach
• Grand Sierra Cinema
• Miniature Golf
• Wedding Chapel
• Johnny Rockets
• Go Karts
• Driving Range
• Bowling
Tobey isn’t the only one who is going to miss the Candy Barrel.
“I’m going to miss the candy cigarettes and bubble gum cigars. I liked the Candy Barrel because you can’t get them anywhere else or at least they’re very hard to find. The yellow bubblegum cigars were my favorite,” said 38 year-old Reno local, Ace Stenson.
Because of all of the foot traffic that the GSR brings, Tobey doesn’t plan to relocate her store. Customers, like Aaron Sexton, a 19 year old English literature student at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), are the kind of business Tobey expects.
“I stopped for candy every time I went to see a movie at the GSR,” said Sexton.
Other tenants located in the Grand Sierra Resort don’t seem too worried about the rent raises. An associate in the hobby shop, near the Candy Barrel, says it will affect everyone differently because they are very different businesses with different customers. According to Sara Robbins, Social Media Manager for the GSR, other stores like Pro Image are staying successful because of how they reach their customers.
Grand Sierra Resort customers won’t be without candy for long though. Robbins said they are opening a new candy store called Grand Sweets and Treats.
“March 1st we will be opening Grand Sweets and Streets and it’ll feature everything from local companies like Tahoe Toffee. They’ll sell a lot of their products in our store. And we also will be highlighting a lot of the desserts that our chefs here at Grand Sierra make,” said Robbins.
With all the new revamping the GSR is doing be on the lookout for new and upcoming attractions coming from the GSR like Grand Sweets and Treats, their indoor pool night club and much more.
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