Previously the site of Charlie's High Hat Bar/Charlie's Grill and Cocktail bar, built in 1932, which has a convoluted history of murder and suicide (and which you can read about in the Tiki Central thread below).

In 1948, 39-year old Jimmie Kam Sun Lee immigrated to the Daytona Beach area from Hong Kong. He was born in Canton, China. Jimmie Lee opened the doors of the Lotus Restaurant as owner-operator in 1950 at 308 Seabreeze Boulevard, on the ground floor of the building formerly hosting Charlie’s Grill & Hi-Hat Club.

Laney's was upstairs and offered strippers and other entertainment. Laney’s Supper Club continued to operate until 1963.

By 1962 at the Lotus Restaurant, Jimmie Lee was joined or succeeded by Wei Lee. Various members of the Lee family shared responsibilities throughout the years.

The interesting tiki facade of the Lotus Restaurant remains a bit of a mystery. However, another member of the Lee family who worked at the Lotus Restaurant in the late 1950s, the venerable Ho Lum Lee, also known as “Papa” Lee, worked several years as chef at the Hawaiian Inn in Daytona Beach and then moved on to be chef at Tiki Gardens, retiring after 20 years there...

So this might be the missing link to explain the Polynesian/Hawaiian influence.

The Lotus Restaurant continued in business until 1987, when the remaining family operating it acquired and moved on to an existing restaurant in Deland, renaming it the New China Restaurant.

A slew of bars have been at the old Lotus Restaurant location in recent years, including Front Row, The Joint, Moonshiner's Hideaway, and ROK Bar. Current status is uncertain as of 2025.

Details

Type

Bar & Restaurant

Address

Daytona Beach, Florida, United States

Closed?

Yes (Permanently)

Links

• tikicentral.com