Then and now: Round Hill mall changes
The original Round Hill Shopping Center was built in the early 1960s. It had two driveway entrances and featured a rustic indoor mall.
The corner of the center in 1996. Photo/TRPA
On the south corner fronting the center was a popular deli in an A-frame building. A retail and business office building now occupies that separately-owned corner.
The south entrance to the center in 1996. Photo/TRPA
To the right of the deli was the south entrance to the center from Elks Point Road. A Safeway store was immediately to the right.
This is what the strip mall looked like 20 years ago. Photo/TRPA
Next to the Safeway going north was the main building of the mall.
In 1996 the mall was enclosed. Photo/TRPA
The skylight-topped mall included, among other things, water displays, a roller skating rink, U.S. post office, photography, jewelry, shoes, clothing, crafts, gifts, bakery, florist, various eateries, bars, offices and an open booth from which mall promoter Dick Green broadcast Round Hill Time daily. (“Hi there, Mrs. Smith — nice to see you here!”)
At the far north end of the mall was a spacious disco nightclub which had various names/owners over the years including the Monte Vista.
The north entrance in 1996. Photo/TRPA
The north driveway to the center was from Highway 50, fronted by a Shell gas station which was razed in about 2005. That lot remains empty today. At one time there were thre gas stations at Round Hill; today just one.
By 1998, the original buildings had been razed and replaced by the new Round Hill Square, without an enclosed mall. The post office and Safeway remained, but the other original tenants gradually left.
The south entrance as it looks in 2016. Photo/Bill Kingman
On the site where Safeway had been at the south entrance now stands the Dollar Tree store.
The strip mall in 2016. Photo/Bill Kingman
A new Safeway was built at the north end of the center where the Monte Vista nightclub was.
Note: My thanks to Karen Fink, Theresa Avance, Devin Middlebrook, and Julie Regan for sharing the 1990s photos from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency files.
— Bill Kingman
The “Velvet Hammer” saw performers like Al Hirt and Pete Fountain hanging out jamming.
Del Webb was at the “Mall” alot and ‘they’ had to pay Safeway to stay the business was so bad.
Thanks Bill
(remember OLS)
I seem to remember a roller skating rink at Round Hill which that became a western night club or did I just dream that?
Rob,
Yes, in the beginning there was a roller skating rink at Round Hill. Back when Douglas County built the firehouse on Elks Point RD. Round Hill was ‘out’of town back then.
Anyone remember the Red Pepper?
I remember “Velvet Turtle” or “Turtles”, and I remember live rock bands playing there.
I played music at the Red Pepper, the First Draft Choice and the After Dark nightclubs. Wow, what memories, or lack thereof…” The old times seem like good times, but I am more thankful for the current times.
The ‘Velvet Hammer’ was the still unoccupied (second) building on Kahle Drive – kind of a dark ‘dive’ to draw people away from Stateline. . .didn’t go there much (once, actually), but remember it as the place where I first heard Cream’s ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ & ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’. . .
I also remember Turtles, but not where it was…[Kingsbury ?)
The Glass Crutch was on Kahle Dr…Sheriff George Byers spent alot of time there.
The Velvet Hammer was in The Round Hill Mall I don’t know about the Velvet Turtle…I’m talking about 1964/65 – 1969/70
Garry The Velvet Hammer was located in the Round Hill Mall. The Glass Grutch the building you mentioned was located on Kahle Drive and several entertainers that appeared at local casinos would occasionally hang out at that night club.
John, several of the entertainers would ‘hang and jam’ at The Velvet Hammer.
Mostly saw rounders and hookers at The Glass Crutch
Robin very true in the later years.
Robin, Very true in the later years. Just as the Velvet Hammer became a alternate lifestyle bar toward the end and prior it being closed and the mall being torn down.
John,
Do you remember what year the mall was torn down?
Do you remember What year the mall closed down?
No I just remember they started tearing down and rebuilding the section where Dayton’s Furniture was and where Safeway is now. That may have also been where Turtles was in later years as it was some type of nightclub if I recall
Ahhh, the former around Hill Mall. I loved the smell of the wood inside. Same as the old Silver City Mall in Carson City. Great times.
The nightclubs and bars I remember to some degree, but What I remember most fondly at that location was Midnight Mine restaurant. Never had a bad meal there.
Anyone remember the Midnight Mine in Round Hill?
Midnight Mine was the greatest. Good food and atmosphere. Wasn’t the same when it reopened in the new mall.
Here’s another Midnite Mine fan!
Met for lunch, Midnight Mine for dinner.
I can say my uncle has one of the gold pan menus. :)
Yes! Very much remember the Red Pepper. Get off work at Sahara Tahoe at midnight and head over there to hang with friends who worked there. Still miss the Midnight Mine.