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Joined: Jul 07, 2005
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(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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