By Mark Waite

An announcement that Golden Gaming Inc., owners of the Pahrump Nugget Casino, were taking over Terrible’s Town and Terrible’s Lakeside Casino and RV Park in September, tops the list of business stories for 2011 in Nye County.

The deal called for Golden Gaming to acquire the two Pahrump casinos and the slot route operated by Affinity Gaming, which acquired the assets of Herbst Gaming in 2010 during bankruptcy proceedings. Golden Gaming agreed to sell its casinos in Black Hawk, Colo., to Affinity Gaming.

The application for the gaming license was submitted to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, but no hearings have been scheduled.

Golden Gaming already has Nevada’s largest tavern business with 40 establishments, including the PT’s Pub chain and has Nevada’s third largest slot route with more than 2,500 machines in more than 150 locations.

Golden Gaming employs more than 1,500 workers, with the acquisition it would be by far the biggest employer in Pahrump.

The medical profession was big business in 2011 as HealthCare Partners bought out practices like Canyon Gate, which just opened a clinic in Pahrump, while Southwest Medical Associates opened a new clinic in the old Lil’ Angels day care center at 2210 Calvada Blvd., in July. A medical clinic opened up inside Walmart in October.

First International Bank, which just built a three-story building on Highway 160, was taken over by American First National Bank of Houston in October.

The Plano, Texas-based bank was closed Sept. 30 by the Texas Department of Banking and had a receiver appointed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. First International Bank opened in Pahrump in August 2008, a year after it opened a branch in Amargosa Valley.

Sanders Family Winery opened on 4.3 acres on Kellogg Road in June. Owner Jack Sanders provided musical entertainment in the courtyard in the fall.

Denny’s Restaurant held a Sept. 20 soft opening in what was formerly the Hollywood Video store at Pahrump Valley Junction Shopping Center. Maverik Market opened in June at Highway 160 and Homestead Road.

Pahrump Valley Taxi closed for a month during June, then reopened.

SolarReserve broke ground on its 110-megawatt solar project in Crescent Dunes 13 miles outside of Tonopah in September. The company received a $737 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy in May. Nye County Commissioners approved a development agreement with the company in July.

BrightSource Energy filed an application with the California Energy Commission in September to build two, 250-megawatt solar plants on the 3,200-acre Hidden Hills Ranch on the California side of the state line on Tecopa Road. Public hearings followed in the fall in Pahrump and Tecopa, Calif.

Valley Electric Association had ambitious expansion plans. In August, VEA announced it entered into a transition agreement to join the California Independent System of Operators CAISO . In November, VEA signed a right-of-way agreement with the Las Vegas Paiute tribe to cross the reservation and complete the northwest transmission line.

A few businesses opened and closed during 2011, including “R” Pizza Buffet at 1700 Pahrump Valley Blvd., which lasted three months from January to April. Burger Paradise opened at 920 S. Pahrump Valley Boulevard in the former Romero’s Express building in June and closed in October.

Simon Harkin and Steve Benson closed Xpress Fitness at 3610 S. Highway 160 in October at a moment’s notice, which was only open since February, leaving 200 members in the lurch.

The world’s oldest profession expanded in 2011.

Dennis Hof, owner of the Moon Lite Bunny Ranch in northern Nevada who was featured on the HBO series “Cathouse,” announced he closed escrow on the last of Joe Richards’ brothels, The Cherry Patch II in early November. The Nye County Licensing and Liquor Board issued a temporary brothel and liquor license in December to Hof, who renamed it the Area 51 Alien Cathouse.

Bikini’s Brothel and Gentleman’s Club, just south of Beatty, became Nye County’s seventh brothel when it was granted a license in January.

The Skate Zone swap meet closed in January. Grease Monkey oil change closed in February, Tire Works moved into the Grease Monkey building at 660 S. Highway 160 in August.

Dr. Raja Mehdi opened Hope Cancer Center, the first oncologist based in Pahrump, in March.

Two mini-malls in a common building, The Pahrump Marketplace opened at the old Furniture Warehouse building on Pahrump Valley Boulevard.

Pahrump Select Mini-Mall opened at 1190 E. Highway 372 where Starlite Video was located before moving down the highway to a larger location.

Some businesses expanded. Papa John’s opened a second location at 3370 S. Highway 160 in September.

Alejandro’s Taco Shop opened into the original El Jefe Restaurant at 1330 E. Fifth Street in July.

Coyote Corner opened at the former Eagle’s Nest Restaurant at 3991 Kellogg Road in May. Sugar’s Too followed in August.

Capriotti’s Restaurant opened up in the Pahrump Nugget in June, the fifth restaurant by Corey Melendrez and Thomas Gurley.

Little Caesar’s Pizza held a July grand opening in the Pahrump Valley Junction Shopping Center.

The Mizpah Hotel, which dates to the turn of the 20th century, was reopened in Tonopah in late August by owners Fred and Nancy Cline, after being closed for over 10 years. Gov. Brian Sandoval and over 200 dignitaries celebrated the event.

Some businesses that opened in 2011 included SES Energy Depot in April; Red Apple Fireworks was granted a fireworks license in April in time for the busy July 4 season; the Sweet Corner Internet Coffee House and Bakery opened on Frontage Road in July; Children’s Dentistry of Pahrump debuted on East Basin Avenue in August; the Maverick Family Restaurant opened inside the Maverick Saloon and Dance Hall in September; Stockpile Defense opened in September. Two beauty salons announced openings in November, Hair FX at 1161 S. Loop Road and At Your Fingertips, 1141 S. Highway 160. Happy Hydroponics opened in November at 111 S. Frontage Road, the same month the Off 160 Coffee House opened in the Beverly Plaza at 1330 S. Highway 160. The Icing on Top Bake Shop opened in March on Postal Road.

But a number of businesses closed. The Town Hall saloon closed today after 22 years in business.

Owners of Quiznos Sandwich Shop, Veda and Lorenzo Ceballos, who leased space in the Beverly Plaza at 1330 S. Highway 160 in the boom times in June 2007, closed in October. The Pahrump Diner closed that same month on Highway 372.