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Trader Dick's , Sparks, NV (restaurant) |
pappythesailor
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 1563
From: Mass.
|  Posted: 2007-08-02 6:41 pm Permalink
Name:Trader Dick's
Type:restaurant
Street:1100 Nugget Ave.
City:Sparks
State:NV
Zip:89431
country:USA
Phone:
Status:operational
Description:
See Jab's post
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=3100&forum=1&hilite=trader%20dick
[ This Message was edited by: pappythesailor 2007-08-02 18:42 ]
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pappythesailor
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 1563
From: Mass.
| Posted: 2007-08-02 6:51 pm Permalink
(Pappy's note: From the Reno Evening Gazette 17 October 1958)
South Seas Restaurant Nearly Ready
Work is nearing completion in Sparks on a brand new South Seas type restaurant named Trader Dick's at the
site of the old Sparks Nugget. Dick Graves, owner of the unique establishment, is also owner-operator of
the new Nugget directly across the street. An estimated $100,000 is being spent to transform the building
into a South Seas restaurant with authentic artifacts from the South Pacific as decorations. The new
restaurant will feature three dining areas, one of them an oriental buffet; two cocktail areas and a gaming
area. Reno Architect Frank Green planned the remodeling while Decorator Eli Hedley is supervising the
decoration. Hedley is a former beachcomber who is well known nationally for his work in the decoration
field.
Tools, cloth, stone carvings and many paintings depicting life on the Pacific islands have gone into the
interior decoration of Trader Dick's. Particularly striking is a wood carving by Frank Polk, local artist,
and mosaics by Hedley's daughter. An authentic Chinese cook oven is also a unique item that has been
installed.
Scenes include a Hawaiian fishing party in which all hands take part. This may be found in the Hookeylan or
Fishing room of Trader Dick's; one of many unusual settings.
The opening of Trader Dick's will bring to five the number of separate restaurants operated by Mr. Graves
in his two rail city locations. Four (steak house, chicken house, prime rib house and coffee shop) are now
in operation at the new Nugget across B St.
Varied scenes from the new restaurant, which will rank in appearance with the finest in the nation, and
will have unexcelled cuisine, are shown on this page.
Top left is the symbol of the new South Seas restaurant, a Tiki, or Easter Island god carved from feather
stone. At lower left is another of the many Tikis in the restaurant. This one will decorate the east wall
of the Golden Dragon room at Trader Dick's. The carving is 10 feet high. The wall coverings are Fijian Tapa
and Abaca cloth. Flanking the Tiki are other Easter Island carvings. The top right picture shows Frank
Polk, well-known local wood artist, and his large mural carving for the Bar of the Golden Dragon. Gold leaf
will be applied when the carving is finished. Seven weeks of work have gone into this bit of art. Center
right photo is a panel from the Hut room, one of three dining rooms at Trader Dick's, featuring a sailing
ship and more Tapa cloth for wall coverings. The bottom photo is the architects rendering of the front of
the new restaurant.
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RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7419
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2007-08-03 07:11 am Permalink
Will have to go there one of these days.
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 4086
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2008-05-05 5:19 pm Permalink
Check out this cool oversized postcard I just got from the Nugget Casino and Trader Dick's restaurant in Sparks, Nevada. Judging by the look of the cars, this is an early card that was produced shortly after the facilities first opened in the late 1950s.
This postcard includes a view of a Tiki sign on the outside of Trader Dick's that does not show up on the two other picture postcards that are available from Trader Dick's.
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (7 years) 
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2696
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2008-05-05 7:49 pm Permalink
I just got this TD Mug off of eBay...
GOTTA CHECK THIS PLACE OUT TOO.
_________________
Do you have your TIKIYAKI ORCHESTRA CD YET ?
http://www.tikiyakiorchestra.com
[ This Message was edited by: tikiyaki 2008-05-05 19:51 ]
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Gonesville!
Member
Joined: Apr 25, 2008
Posts: 5
From: Southern California
| Posted: 2008-05-06 3:55 pm Permalink
I was just at Trader Dick's last November and a word of advice for those thinking about making a trip: Avoid the late-night weekends, especially Saturday, if you are going to sit at the bar. Awful DJ playing awful music. Crowded dance floor (not that it matters). For dinner you should be fine but bar seating is best during the week. I went during the week and once during the weekend and was able to enjoy it much more during the week. That being said, I still had a fine time during the weekend as it was my first time there so my excitement carried me through the rough patches. Definitely worth a visit.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11004
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-05-06 10:30 pm Permalink
D.C., That is the original Trader Dick's, which was closed and moved across the street into the casino, in the 70s or 80s. That sign in the architectural rendering might have never been built.
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 4086
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2008-05-06 11:06 pm Permalink
Bigbro,
I thought that Trader Dick's stayed across the street from the Nugget casino for some time and that was the site of the two postcards below.
The postcards don't show the sign from the rendering, so maybe your right and it never got built.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11004
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-05-06 11:14 pm Permalink
I am not really sure WHEN it was moved, have to dig up that info and I don't have my stuff with me. I just wanted to point out that the place the above members visited is not the same than in your postcard(s) and in the article pappy posted. The newer version in the casino is still cool, though.
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TabooDan
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 18, 2004
Posts: 641
From: BC, Canada
| Posted: 2008-05-07 08:00 am Permalink
Anybody got pictures of the newer location on the outside? Maybe something after it moved as opposed to today? Either I guess would be cool to see though.
Just curious about this now.
Thanks, TabooDan
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 4086
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2008-05-07 5:12 pm Permalink
Taboo Dan,
Check out this post for info and a few pictures from the new Trader Dick's. There are some interior shots but nothing from the exterior.
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=20519&forum=2&hilite=trader%20dick
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Tiki-Kate
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 21, 2003
Posts: 1700
From: Yucaipa, CA
| Posted: 2009-06-08 7:10 pm Permalink
There are two Locating posts for Trader Dick's, and both list the same address. I know the restaurant bounced around a few times, but does anyone know what the previous address was?
New matchbook shows 1100 Nugget Avenue at the Nugget. Old matchbook shows no address but is across from the Nugget.
And here's an appetizer and cocktail menu. No address anywhere.
_________________
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 4086
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-06-08 10:51 pm Permalink
Another menu and matchbook from the Trader Dicks in Sparks.
Not sure of the location changes, will check my postcards to see.
DC
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11004
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2009-06-09 4:26 pm Permalink
That must be the original menu cover. Does it have Dick Graves' "proud plagiarism" proclamation that I quote in the BOT, page 153, in it?:
"....I've swiped menus, bribed bartenders and copied every good thing I could find..."
As he did with the menu art  :
 
The iconic cover, that gave countless Aku Aku Tiki temples its name, rendered by talented modernist Charley Harper:
http://www.CharleyHarperArtStudio.com/
[ This Message was edited by: bigbrotiki 2009-06-09 16:30 ]
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TabooDan
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 18, 2004
Posts: 641
From: BC, Canada
| Posted: 2009-06-25 3:41 pm Permalink
I picked up this cool little Ashtray a little while ago:
It is round, clear glass and says "Trader Dick's Chinese Restaurant" on one side, "Nugget Casino-Motor Lodge, Sparks, Nevada" on the other and also "6 Award Winning Restaurants" all in red.
I am not sure of the age but looks quite old like maybe 60's or early 70's. I thought it may be older than that as it does say Chinese Restaurant on it but I am not sure. None of the matchbooks say this specifically on it.
This Ashtray mentions "6 Restaurants". The early matchbook I have mentions that the Nugget has "4 other fine restaurants" but across the street from Trader Dicks. Later books I have mention "8 Restaurants". I thought this may be a way of trying to date the matchbooks and other items from here.
Clearly there just weren't enough places to eat there!!;)
TabooDan
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