Walter Kwan
Walter Kwan, founder of Top Gun Restaurant and O’Asian, died on May 26. The cause of Kwan’s death was an aneurysm.
Kwan, 48, was an entrepreneur and restaurateur. He created several restaurants including Top Gun on S. King St. (closed in 2000), Dim Sum Factory in Bellevue, Tropics Thai on S. Weller St., and O’Asian, which closed in January.
Kwan enjoyed challenges. He selected locations most considered to be undesirable such as inside the Bank of America building on 5th Ave for O’Asian.
Kwan was proud of O’Asian, which opened in 2006, an upscale eatery for downtown businessmen and politicians. At the height of his success, Kwan employed over 200 people.
Friends said he was smart, likeable, and generous. He supported many charities, and donated dinner certificates worth hundreds of dollars from his restaurants. His favorite hangout was at the former Sun Ya Restaurant, with his buddy Andy Chan, the former owner. His father, Chuan Kwan, said he was a filial son, who always took care of him and his mother.
At a young age, Kwan stood out in the crowd with his baldness. His mother, Mrs. Ah Lin Kwan, said both her sons became bald after they came to the United States. The family immigrated in 1983. Prior to his restaurant business, Kwan owned a travel agency.
His two parents, a brother and two daughters, Ashley and Amber, survive Kwan. He and his wife were divorced. Kwan’s funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on June 5, at the Sunset Memorial Home in Bellevue.
How sad. I had no idea of that when the business closed. He was so young. He must have overworked. I worked as a cocktail server for O’Asian for a little while and didn’t know him (only met him). How sad. I know he worked as a dishwasher and fought his way into business ownership.