From ‘Port Charles’ to Glendale

Ryan Carter

It’s not exactly Morocco or Jamaica, but for Opal Anchel, the tan in

Glendale might be just as good, or better.

After years of modeling and acting, the 26-year-old is giving a go

at running her own Glendale tanning salon.

Inside her Kool Rays salon, which opened Valentine’s Day at 211 N.

Central Ave., there’s 16 rooms with tanning beds such as the

state-of-the-art “Ultabronze” machine and the “European Superbed.”

The enterprise has taken a commitment from Anchel, whose father,

Tim, died two months ago of a sudden heart attack. For 14 years, he

built the business only a couple of blocks south of where Anchel is

now. Her brother, Ofir, also a model, runs another family tanning

salon in Northridge. The larger space, with more rooms and tanners,

was her father’s goal, Anchel said.

“He dreamed of something a little bigger,” she said. “He always

thought that I would get out of acting and run the family business.

When everything happened, I just knew this was the right thing to

do.”

But it took an emotional commitment.

“The other world is very tempting, and it was hard to let go,” she

said of the entertainment industry.

Anchel, who began modeling at 18 with the prestigious Ford agency,

has worked around the world. She’s had acting spots on “Baywatch” and

“Beverly Hills 90210,” hosted episodes of “Wild On...” on the E!

Channel and played a character on the ABC soap opera “Port Charles,”

among other ventures.

Manager Laurie Buchanan said the experience hasn’t affected the

way Anchel interacts with employees or clients.

“I don’t feel like she’s boss,” Buchanan said. “She’s more of a

co-worker with me.”

Anchel said she’s settling in.

“My father would always say, ‘This is not brain surgery, people

are just coming in to relax and get a tan.’”

Plus, there’s still some stories at the salon.

“I get my own daytime drama here,” she said.

*

THE ANCHEL FILE

* WHAT: Kool Rays tanning salon.

* WHO: Opal Anchel, owner.

* WHERE: 211 N. Central Ave.

* HOURS: Weekdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, from

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.