Albert Charboneau Passes At 72

One of West Wendover’s founding fathers Albert Charboneau died last week in Las Vegas.

Charboneau came to Wendover in 1985 and opened the towns first super market that sold everything from meat and groceries to clothes and appliances. It was the anchor store for the Plaza Shopping Center.

In 1995 he moved Frontier out of the Plaza and built his own store on what would become Smith’s.

“He was a sharp businessman and smooth talker and loved, I mean loved to hustle. He would scheme up an idea, get it going and then leave my mother to run it. Because he did get bored quick once the thrill of the deal wore off. Together with Eleanor they were the proud owners of Iona Mercantile, Highland Market, Midget Market and Sconey’s in Idaho Falls and Frontier Foods in Wendover, Nevada. Plus taxi companies, gas station/car washes, produce and bar delivery services, and others,” wrote his son Michael. “Dad probably gave away more business ideas than most people dream up in a lifetime. I talked to Dad that Monday, before he died and he was so excited to tell me about the newest idea he had come up with about renting out mobility scooters at the casinos. It’s a million dollar idea Michael, I tell you a million dollars, and you can get it started so cheap! Little known fact…Red Baron Pizza, was started by my father and just literally given away…  I am going to get on my pedestal and say that Wendover would not exist as it is today without my father’s vision. That town could not grow and the casinos could not expand if it weren’t for the services my parents brought when they build that store. And that town owes a great deal of respect to my father because he built West Wendover Nevada.”