Kwang An - the "Mr. An" of his well-known TV commercials - is bringing his persona and food to Casino Del Sol starting this weekend.
An will open a 6,500-square-foot restaurant, named An Del Sol, his third Tucson restaurant. It will have a sushi bar and sports bar, and will serve Japanese and Chinese food.
The An Del Sol interior decor, designed by An's wife, Christina, includes Japanese and Chinese touches, with a wall of 72 miniature Buddhas.
"They say I'm the 73rd Buddha," said Kwang An. "Everyone thinks I look like a Buddha."
If so, that Buddha-like mug will be displayed in the casino, too - Mr. An's face will be put on blackjack tables and chips as part of his new partnership with Sol Casinos.
"It will be good for the casino, good for me and good for the people," said An.
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The official ribbon-cutting will be Saturday at 6 p.m., and all proceeds from a dinner that night will benefit Tu Nidito, a Tucson charity that helps children and families whose lives have been affected by illness or death. The Tucson Ladies Council is co-hosting the benefit, which costs $75 per person.
The restaurant will be open for normal business starting Sunday at 5 p.m.
Wendell Long, CEO of Sol Casinos, an enterprise of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, said he had always wanted an Asian restaurant there.
Members of Club Sol can use their earned points toward vouchers for An's Tucson restaurants, including the locations outside the casino: Great Wall China and Mr. An's Teppan Steak & Sushi.
The partnership "will grow both businesses, increase our customer base and bring us to another level," Long said.
If you go
• What: An Del Sol restaurant opens to the general public.
• Where: Casino Del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road.
• When: Sunday, Dec. 19, at 5 p.m.
Rikki Mitchell is a University of Arizona journalism student and a NASA Space Grant intern. Contact her at rmitchell@azstarnet.com
