The Battle for Believe Plaza: When Private Commerce Threatens Public Space

The proposed relocation of local outdoor bar The Eddy to Reno's city plaza has sparked intense debate, highlighting a fundamental clash between private business interests and the preservation of public community spaces. As the city prepares for upcoming bridge refurbishment, The Eddy's push to take over the plaza has met fierce resistance from residents who view the move as an unacceptable privatization of a vital public asset.

A Cherished Community Hub

At the heart of the controversy is Believe Plaza itself, which locals describe as a "defacto gathering place" for a diverse range of community activities. The plaza is heavily utilized year-round by pedestrians, skaters, and local organizations. It serves as a staging area for the cycling group Bike Night every Wednesday, a highly visible venue for public protests, and a host site for major historical events like Controlled Burn's Compression.

Furthermore, residents point out that the plaza's current use is exactly what the city originally intended. A 1995 Reno Redevelopment Agency document titled "A Revitalization Strategy for the Downtown River Corridor" specifically designated the site of the imploded Mapes Hotel as an open, public "town square." This vision was reinforced by the Virginia Street Placemaking study and the Truckee River Vision Plan, both of which called for the space to be used for public gatherings, art exhibits, music, and street vendors — not to be fenced off for exclusive private commerce.

The top-upvoted comment in the entire r/Reno thread (112 upvotes) captured the room:

*"Yeah f*** that right off. The Believe Plaza has become a defacto gathering place for a ton of different things, we do not need to give it over to commerce at the same time the city is struggling to fill existing commercial space."*

A Controversial and "Audacious" Proposal

The specifics of The Eddy's relocation plan have fueled the community's outrage. Critics are particularly incensed by reports that the business is seeking a highly subsidized 20-year lease at just $1 a year. Residents view this as a blatant attempt to force the taxpaying public to subsidize a for-profit business.

Adding to the frustration are accusations of financial double-dipping. Community members allege that the owner, Kurt Stitzer, wants to accept construction funds to store materials on his current lot while simultaneously operating his bar on the nearby public square for free. Critics argue that the temporary inconvenience of the bridge construction does not justify handing over public land — especially when patrons can easily access the bar via the Riverwalk or the nearby Arlington Bridge.

Broken Promises and Neighborly Disputes

The community's lack of trust in The Eddy's ownership stems in part from the bar's history at its current location. When originally securing its Conditional Use Permit, the business pitched itself to nearby neighbors — including the Riverside Artist Lofts and Wild River Grill — as a "low-volume non-competitive temporary use" aimed at young families and professionals.

However, immediate neighbors allege that the bar has since violated those terms, transforming into a disruptive neighbor that blasts loud music during special events. Even neighbors who would benefit from the noise moving away remain "absolutely opposed" to sacrificing municipal public space to solve the problem. That's a notable signal: even the people who would most benefit from the move oppose it on principle.

The Players

Kurt Stitzer and the Stitser Family

Kurt Stitzer is identified as the owner / primary operator of The Eddy. Community discussions claim Stitzer originally intended to open the business in the Entertainment District near the Eldorado, but settled for the Riverwalk District after failing to broker a deal there.

The Stitser family is viewed with deep suspicion by some residents due to previous dealings with the local government — commenters pointed to a past real estate transaction where the family allegedly acquired a Riverside parcel from the City through an "unsolicited offer of a fraction of market value."

One commenter directly addressed Stitzer:

*"Stop using your position of power for permanent personal gain. Find a temporary solution that benefits all the local bars affected by the bridge construction — not just yours."*

The City of Reno and the Reno Redevelopment Agency

The local government is responsible for managing Believe Plaza and is currently facing resident frustration over its handling of the proposal. Rather than rejecting the relocation outright, the city "narrowly voted to do more studying before more discussion on land use" — a move locals mocked as government "in action."

Historically, the Reno Redevelopment Agency played a crucial role in shaping this area. Following community workshops in 1995, the agency established a master plan that explicitly reserved the area where the Mapes Hotel was imploded to serve as an open, public town square.

Given that history, some residents express intense cynicism about the city's current motives. Users theorized the city might approve the private relocation simply to remove "protesters in a visible place" from Believe Plaza, and pointed to past land deals with the Stitsers as evidence of questionable governance.

Riverside Artist Lofts, Wild River Grill, Bike Night, and Controlled Burn

These are the community stakeholders directly affected. The Riverside Lofts and Wild River Grill are the immediate neighbors to The Eddy's current location — the ones the bar pitched its "low-volume, family-friendly" model to back when it sought its CUP. Bike Night is the cycling group that uses the plaza every Wednesday as a staging area before departing on rides. Controlled Burn is the arts and performance organization behind the Compression event. For these actors, The Eddy's privatization of the plaza represents a direct threat to established community activities and the city's mobility corridors.

Community Resistance and Alternative Solutions

Online civic forums have been flooded with rejections of the proposal, with top reactions ranging from a blunt "Hard pass" to pointing out the absurdity of carving up a vibrant public space while downtown Reno already struggles with empty commercial storefronts.

The two most-upvoted gut reactions:

• "Hard pass." (59 upvotes)
• "That's gonna be a no from me dawg." (41 upvotes)

Rather than a permanent or exclusive private takeover, residents have brainstormed collaborative alternatives that honor the plaza's intended purpose as a town square. The most popular alternative (49 upvotes) suggests temporarily allowing all the local bars affected by the bridge construction to host rotating, themed booze and food carts in the plaza on select evenings:

*"Here is a solution: During bridge construction, the bars affected (and there are about 5), get to have booze carts/trucks in the square on select evenings once a week. No cost to the bars or attendees. Shuffle board one week, shish kababs the next. One bar take the lead each week and pick the theme. Someone spring for a DJ and make it an event."*

Another user agreed (34 upvotes), noting this "sits more in line with the original plan for a town square along the riverwalk."

This solution would provide a shared economic benefit for multiple struggling businesses without costing attendees or fencing off the public space.

What's Next?

For now, the Reno city government has narrowly voted to conduct more studies before making a final decision on the land use — a delay that has been met with local cynicism.

As the debate continues, the battle over Believe Plaza stands as a defining moment for downtown Reno, begging the question: will the city protect the public squares it spent decades planning, or will it lease them away to the highest — or in this case, the lowest — bidder?

What do you think, Reno? Should the city allow the temporary relocation to save a local business, or is the plaza strictly off-limits to private commerce? Tag us on the Ask-Reno newsletter signup and let us know — we'll feature the best replies in next week's edition.

Browse more: Reno events this weekend · Downtown nightlife · About Ask-Reno