A long-established South County card room is moving and reopening under a new name Thursday in a renovated building on the Chula Vista bayfront.
The new Seven Mile Casino replaces the Village Club Card Room, which has been operated by the Souza family since 1946. The new card room offers California blackjack, bacarrat, pai-gow and poker along with a restaurant featuring Chinese and American cuisine.
After an opening celebration beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday, the new casino will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Chula Vista has been our home for almost 70 years and our growing family of employees and patrons is proving that Seven Mile Casino is one of the most upscale venues San Diego County has to offer,” said Harvey Souza, owner of Seven Mile Casino. “We’re grateful for the support of our community leaders and partners and honored to be a part of revitalizing the Chula Vista Bayfront.”
The new name pays tribute to Souza’s great grandfather, Joao de Souza, who owned 11 Mile Saloon in Hilo, Hawaii, in the late 1800’s, located 11 miles from the nearest town. The Seven Mile Casino is seven miles from San Diego in one direction and seven miles from Tijuana in the other.
The new and larger facility employs an additional 100 people.
