Changes on tap at The Rio

Wednesday, June 12, 2002 | 11:22 a.m.

The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas -- a Harrah's Entertainment Inc. property that markets itself as a restaurant destination -- will add one new restaurant and replace three others with new tenants in the coming months.

The hotel-casino will also launch a new nightclub from Frey Entertainment -- the parent company of the Coyote Ugly bar at the New York-New York casino.

Customers have raised the bar on restaurants, prompting the upgrades and the elimination of some existing tenants, Harrah's executives said.

The Gaylord India Restaurant, based in San Francisco, will open in fall near The Rio's high-limit gambling area. Rosemary's, now with a location on West Sahara Avenue, will locate a second restaurant in a space formerly occupied by Napa restaurant.

J.W.'s Tavern, a casual pub, is scheduled to open in mid-August in a space now occupied by Mama Marie's Cucina. Hamada of Japan, a Las Vegas-based regional chain, will open this fall at the former site of the Mask restaurant.

The nightclub, which has not yet been named, will be housed in the previous Rio Bamba Lounge.