Charles Barkley To Open Steakhouse In King Of Prussia

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA — Sixers legend and longtime Philly icon Charles Barkley is teaming up with Valley Forge Casino to bring a new steakhouse and cigar lounge to King of Prussia.

Both will be located at the casino, part of what officials call the facility's multi-year expansion and transformation.

“The Philadelphia area has always felt like home to me, and I’m thrilled to bring something new to a community that’s played such a big part in my life,” Barkley said. “We’re creating a spot that’s fun, comfortable, and full of personality. I want it to be the kind of place where people can unwind, share a great meal and feel that same energy and connection that make this community so special.”

The steakhouse will include "nods" to Barkley's Sixers career, including personal memorabilia and a celebration of Barkley's ties to the greater Philadelphia area.

An opening date has not yet been announced.

The Humidor cigar lounge will be next door and will feature a "luxurious, club-like" atmosphere, according to Boyd Gaming, the owners of Valley Forge Casino. A walk-in humidor will center the lounge, and it will also include private lockers and a bar.

Barkley himself will have an active role in designing the restaurant menu and the overall vision, the casino added. The casino will also feature Redmont Distilling Co. spirits, Barkley's signature brand.

Lovingly known as "The Round Mound of Rebound," Barkley is widely considered one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. He spent the first eight of his 16 years in the NBA in Philadelphia, leading the Sixers to the playoffs in six of those years and also recording top-6 MVP finishes in six of those years.

He eventually won an NBA MVP with Phoenix in 1992-93, capping off a Hall of Fame career. But his number was retired in Philadelphia and he's been associated with the city ever since, throughout a 25-year career as an NBA analyst and cornerstone of the popular "Inside the NBA" show.