Historic Reno Saloon Will Stay

The owners of the Liberty Belle Saloon have won their battle to keep the Reno landmark at its present location.

Restaurant owner Marshall Fey and Reno convention officials tell The Associated Press that plans have been scrapped for either moving or demolishing the building.

Fey says he got the word directly today in a meeting with Jeff Beckelman, the president of the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority. In Fey€™s words, “That will be the end of it.” He told AP, “We´re kind of an icon and I guess the icon is going to stay in place.”

RSCVA spokeswoman Kristi Prentice confirms that the convention board has voted to end negotiations to acquire the property for $1 million. She says there no longer are any plans to pursue condemnation of the restaurant.

Brothers Marshall and Frank Fey have been dishing out generous portions of food and spirits at the South Virginia Street location for 44 years. They are the grandsons of the inventor of what would become the modern slot machine and keep dozens of the one-armed bandits on display at the restaurant.