Then and now: Same location, different businesses
This is captioned “Founded in 1946.” Nel’s has relocated several times since then. Photo/Nel’s Hardware
According to Nel’s Tahoe Supply and long-time (since 1947) local resident Dave Wakeman, these photos depict the same Highway 50 location in South Lake Tahoe.
This U.S. Geological Survey aerial is of Bijou dated Dec. 31, 1939, with a red X to locate the site.
Today’s DMV and Bank of America building was erected in the 1960s. Photo/Bill Kingman
Bijou Gift Shop in approximately 1950. Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Society
— Bill Kingman
Blll Kingman, I believe Nel’s was also once located on the lakeside of hwy 50 somewhere between the Bijou Market and what is now called the Alta Mira building. I may be wrong on the location but I do remember going there as old Nels Nelson, as my dad called him, offered us to tear down some old boards from the building before it was demolished. My dad, never one to turn down free lumber, put me in the truck and we went right to work with claw hammers and crowbars, salvaging what we could. My dad, the original recycler!
As I recall the building was painted white and Nel’s went on to move to another location. Not sure of the year, but must have been early 60’s. Thanks Bill, OLS