Sparks - Prater & McCarran
Some good shopping, with a nearby, delightful place to take in the sun and water.
Here off US-395, and then north (left if eastbound) on McCarran, are most of the notables to be found in the area.
Western Village soon will be on the right. Western Village, normally a truck stop, also has motel rooms, gas, and food. There is also a car wash across the street.
Continuing north on McCarran you will find Mervyns, Wells Fargo, and Wendy's on your right, along with a Longs Drug Store, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Radio Shack, CVS Pharmacy, and a Dollar Store.
At the corner of East McCarran Blvd. and Prater Way, to your left you will find most notably a very popular supermarket among burners, Save Mart, which is a great resource for, among other things, water, supplies, bikes, a rideshare base, and recycling. See below in the listing for fuller details. Target, The Party Store, and Mother Lode bike shop, are also in this shopping center.
There are also a number of auto shops in this area of McCarran and Prater: Midas Muffler, Econolube, Good Year Tire, Kraigen, Pep Boys, and a self car wash big enough to clean even the largest RV.
There is virtually every fast food restaurant in the area.
South of I-80, the only things of note are Buckbean Brewing Company and RSW Recycling (see below for fuller details).
Also, before you leave Sparks to the desert, you may want to stop at the Sparks Marina area during the day for a delightful place to take in the sun and water. Grab a bite to eat and a drink at two local restaurants or take a walk around the marina. It's a nice two mile walk. From I-80 on McCarran Blvd, turn right on Nichols Blvd to find the Marina. If you go around the marina you will find two nice sit-down restaurants (and several others for more casual fare) and further down Lincoln Way is the RV park. It is at the end of the street on the left.
Western Village
815 Nichols Blvd. - 775-331-1019 - map
Western Village consists of a service station, restaurant, hotel/casino and septic dump.
Marina Hand Car Wash
720 Nichols Blvd - 775-358-4134 - map
G Save Mart (formerly Albertson's)
565 E Prater Way - 775-359-9060 - map
This Save Mart has seen a steadily increasing stream of Burner business for some time, and plans for our numbers by ordering certain novelty items and large quantities of water in August. Like all Save Mart supermarkets in the area, they too are going green for this year's burn and beyond. Moreover, the parking lot of this supermarket is also a very reliable place to Rideshare — seek or offer a ride to the playa.
An area of the Save Mart parking lot will be set aside to display LOTS AND LOTS of bulk-water that may be picked up after being purchased inside. They will also be carrying lots of 15 and 55-gallon water barrels, spigots and pumps. Other specialty products will be located inside and outside of the store, including Black Rock Bicycles and accessories, dry ice, tiki torches, medium sized propane tanks, small disposable propane tanks and stoves, bicycle tubes and lighting, large brim hats, vegetarian and vegan sandwich fillers (such as tofurky, tofudogs, and boca burgers), various energy bars and powders, sushi, reusable cups and other kitchenware and storage containers, canned beer and other booze, and coolers. Sharing in the spirit of the Greening Man theme, Save Mart is also carrying Cool Neon el-wire ready-kits, Crank flashlights, solar lanterns, solar chargers, rechargeable batteries, bio toilets, bio bags, biodegradable kitchenware, hemp rope, and 7th Generation bathroom-wares.
And, like most Save Marts in town, they will also be operating a Drive-Thru Recycling Center for this year's event! A free, multi-community project to promote recycling, this multi-year initiative is designed for your convenience, with no strings attached - just please have your recyclables clean as possible. Bicycles, plastics (HDPE 1,2,3,4&5), plastic bags, glass, all metals (aluminum, tin, lead, steel, etc), paper, cardboard, and rechargeable batteries are all welcome. Moreover, garbage dumping will be available to recyclers at the rate of $3 per 35-gallon standard trash bag. All proceeds raised from this recycling initiative will be donated to support local environmental initiatives and charitable causes. Both the store and recycling center will be open 24/7 throughout the event until September 3. No worries, they are set up for maximum capacity!
Longs
590 E Prater Way - 775-359-8704 - map
Some camping supplies, pharmacy.
Buckbean Brewing Company
1155 S. Rock Blvd - 775-857-4444 - Open Mon-Thur 11-6, Fri-Sat 11-7 - map
Great beer that comes in 16oz. cans - which means that your beer will be far less affected by sunlight, as well as the fact that cans are far easier to transport and recycle. Beer also comes in 5-gallon and regular-size kegs. Free tasting at the brewery. Highly recommended that you pre-order and make arrangements well-ahead for pickup at the brewery. Check out the link above. To get there from I-80, you'll need to travel south on McCarran (right off of I-80 if you are heading east). Continue down McCarran about 2 miles, and right past Rock Blvd. Buckbean will be on your right in the big warehouse.
Black Bear Diner
235 N McCarran Blvd. - 775-356-1138 - map
HUGE plates of excellent diner fare in a kitschy place filled with bear paraphernalia. Open early til late, you'll have leftovers unless you've got a monster appetite. Breakfast all day. Across McCarran from Western Village.
Western Village
815 Nichols Blvd. - 775-331-1019 - map
Western Village consists of a service station, restaurant, hotel/casino and septic dump.
Anchors
325 Harbour Cove Dr. - 775-356-6888 - map
The Jib
325 Harbour Cove Dr. - 775-355-9266 - map
Round Table
550 E Prater Way - 775-359-1010 - map
Joe Bob’s Chicken Joint
670 E Prater Way - 775-359-9777 - map
The fried chicken is greasy and good, the beer is cold and plentiful, and the juke box will give you a break from playa techno if you need to unwind for a while.
Hospitals/Urgent Care Facilities
M Northern Nevada Medical Center
2345 E Prater Way - 775-356-1212 - map
This hospital is a little bit away from this shopping hub, but every year it plays an important role for Burning Man. For serious medical care, this is the closest hospital to the playa, and note that many ambulances will bring folks here rather than head downtown.
Northern Nevada Medical Center is best reached from I-80 by the Vista Blvd. exit, at the eastern edge of Sparks, where you'll want to turn north on Vista, and then up about 1/2 mile, turn right onto to Prater Way.
Wells Fargo
400 N McCarran Blvd. - 775-353-4500 - map
Nevada State Bank
500 E Prater Way - 775-852-6611 - map
Bank of America
700 N McCarran Blvd - 775-685-5910 - map
Big 5
558 N McCarran Blvd - 775-331-1211 - map
Target
505 E Prater Way - 775-331-4600 - map
Black Rock Bicycles
7550 Hillview Dr - 775- 972-3336Z
The only bike outfit in town primarily catered to burners. To rent a bike, please visit the website. However, if you wish to buy a new bike for the playa, or accessories at an unbeatable price, the burners of Black Rock Bicycles are teaming up with the Prater Save Mart supermarket to sell bikes at the store for the week of Burning Man. Look into the Save Mart listing above on how to get there.
Mother Lode Bikes
539 E Prater Way - 775-355-6700 - map
Western Village
815 Nichols Blvd. - 775-331-1019 - map
Western Village consists of a service station, restaurant, hotel/casino and septic dump.
Sally Beauty Supply
668 N McCarran Blvd. - 775-331-5520 - map
Factory 2-U
650 E Prater Way # A - 775-331-3116 - map
Big Lots
650 E Prater Way - 775-356-6188 - map
Radio Shack
578 N McCarran Blvd - 775-359-6451 - map
Washoe ARC Thrift & Gift
580 E Prater Way - 775-351-1117 - map
Western Village
815 Nichols Blvd. - 775-331-1019 - map
Western Village consists of a service station, restaurant, hotel/casino and septic dump.
Sparks Marina
1200 E Lincoln Way - 775-851-8888 - map
Econo Lube
651 N McCarran Blvd - 775-358-7800 - map
Jiffy Lube
215 E Prater Way - 775-359-9682 - map
Pep Boys
300 E Prater Way - 775-358-7200 - map
Midas
245 E Prater Way - 775-355-0508 - map
Kragen Auto Parts
345 E Prater Way - 775-331-7550 - map
Reno Vulcanizing Works
225 E. Prater Way - 702-356-7500 - map
Western Village
815 Nichols Blvd. - 775-331-1019 - map
A service station and truck-stop
G Save Mart
565 E Prater Way - 775-359-9060 - map
Cooperating in the multi-year Drive-Thru Recycling Initiative.. This supermarket goes out of their way for burners!
G RSW Recycling
1455 E. Greg St. - 775-329-8822 - map
Takes plastics, glass, aluminum, tin, paper, and cardboard. No dumping - NO FURNITURE!
Need more info? Try: Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, Reno News and Review, Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno Magazine, Reno Passport, National Traffic and Road Closure Information, PlayReno, NevadaNet, goTahoe.com, Tahoe.com, Fernleynews.com. 
