News : Long\'s brother manages new Lotus Chinese Restaurant in Peony\'s former building

By Vinton Today · September 7, 2011, 12:24 pm

New management: Polly Long's brother Luc will manage the Lotus Chinese Restaurant.

Crews from Tharp's Design put up the new Lotus sign Wednesday morning.

The Lotus Chinese Restaurant opened today in the same building as the popular but troubled Peony Family Restaurant that closed after the previous owners, Chan Duong and Polly Long, began serving their federal prison sentences on immigration violations.

Luc Long, the brother of Polly Long, is the manager of the new restaurant.

Scott Tharp and his crew put up the new sign at the building this morning.

Long said he is in the process of applying for a liquor license. The business currently accepts cash, local checks or debit cards, but Long continues to work on setting up credit card capabilities. He said the menu will stay the same, although the prices have changed. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Most of the employees who were working for the Peony when it closed will work for the Lotus.

While Long has helped his family work at the restaurant in the past, he said this is his first time to manage a business.

Benton County land records indicate that Chan Duong is still the owner of the building.

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a September 7, 2011, 1:00 pm As long as Duong remains owner of the land, I cannot be fully convinced that the same \"problems\" aren\'t going to happen again. The restaurant is still connected to convicted felons.

K September 7, 2011, 1:59 pm Wow, pretty new sign to help us forget what his sister did. Nice try but I don\'t think so. I will still not enter this establishment. You better believe that the previous owners are getting income out of this.

K September 7, 2011, 1:59 pm I couldn\'t agree more with AJ and Kurt.

K September 7, 2011, 2:26 pm I for one am thrilled that they will be re-opening, and hope that other people give them a chance as well.

PM September 7, 2011, 2:54 pm I think we all gave them a chance, Vinton is good that way...but fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on ME...not going to be part of it again!
I thought the lost everything anyway, how can they reopen...

C September 7, 2011, 4:45 pm I also am glad they will reopen. It is the SISTER not the person who previously. I would not be responsible for what my sister did or did not do. I think we should make them welcome.

T September 7, 2011, 5:09 pm It is always interesting to me how one bad apple is always given the chance to ruin the whole bucket. I hope you all want to be judged also on what your family does even if it is not what you believe is right. Way to show people we are a closed minded community.

S September 7, 2011, 5:14 pm I think they should get a Gold Star for effort anyway.... ooops bad choice of words?

j September 7, 2011, 5:27 pm I will give them a chance, just hope they don\'t sky rocket the prices to much

V September 7, 2011, 6:02 pm I read a comment the other day about how this person \"hopes they have the same great costumer service as Peonys did\" HAHAHA because stealing our money is great customer service.

S September 7, 2011, 6:04 pm I would imagine that the IRS, et al, will be keeping a close eye on the books, especially with Duong still listed as the owner.

September 7, 2011, 6:29 pm Come on Vinton, give \'em a chance. Yes, I agree they\'re being watched like a hawk!!

W September 7, 2011, 7:13 pm I understand that this is Polly\'s brother and not Polly and we should all be understanding of that. HOWEVER, Chan still owns the land. As the owner he will most likely be making profit...how is that legal??? Also, the brother is NOT the owner, just the manager...come on folks! It\'s the same restaurant, different name...no more chances. Patty said it best-fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The food may be good, but have some morals!!

K September 7, 2011, 7:14 pm I think we should definitely give Peony/Lotus another chance. I know that the previous owners have done wrong, but they did leave children behind. Just think that maybe the money that the Lotus makes is helping support the kids...

T September 7, 2011, 7:18 pm Yay!!! I cant wait to eat there again!!!

A September 7, 2011, 9:12 pm The children don\'t even live in Vinton anymore, so the money most likely isn\'t going to them. I have to assume the \"managers\" are keeping the majority of the money, that is if it doesn\'t go back to Chan. I wouldn\'t want to be put into the same category as one of my family member\'s mistakes either, but why are they so eager to open this restaurant?? Didn\'t they have a home and job before?? Why would they abandon that? Seems too strange to me.

Also, Cafe 218 has been caught with illegal aliens before (with previous owners) but many people still won\'t eat there. Why? The food \"isn\'t as good.\" Vallartas (former Mexican restaurant)closed after they lost all of their business after serving underage. No other Mexican restaurant has since survived this town. And finally, the BBQ joint closed quickly after the town learned of the owners \"past.\" No one in this town is willing to give these people a second chance for a SIMPLE mistake they made, yet these convicted felons and their families are continuously getting the support of the town. Why? Because of the food. It\'s gluttony at this point. Is food really that important over morals??? Lets put our hunger aside and look at what\'s right and what\'s wrong for once.

J September 7, 2011, 9:21 pm So Chan is still the owner. I thought the land was ceased? So he\'s still making money. Fantastic. Ripping us off while in jail.

e September 7, 2011, 10:10 pm \"He without sin cast the first stone\"

PD September 7, 2011, 10:34 pm Those still willing to sponsor this ring, will...the rest will just wait for the next story on Vinton Today about how they are busted yet again, and again you will say, \"They have kids, give them another chance, those without sin...\" wake up people, no sense in sponsoring law breakers, there are many fine and upstanding businesses that need your support, eat there!

N September 8, 2011, 7:07 am I, for one, will be eating there. I love the food, and who among us hasn\'t patronized other places that have done wrong, such as Walmart and their practices, and yet we still shop there? Until it involves me directly, I will give others a chance! Bring on the crab rangoon, I\'m behind the new management.

K September 8, 2011, 11:15 am In reply to Nancy, this HAS affected you directly. The crime committed affected everyone who has ever given them business. Each time you ate at the restaurant, you were taken advantage of for their gain. Does it make you feel good to know you pay taxes on each and every paycheck you receive so these people could have Medicaid priveleges they didn\'t qualify for or deserve? Sure the food was good, but does it taste good to know that people you came to know very well, were lying to you the entire time? Point blank, the land on which the business resides is still owned by a convicted felon..this alone should make you not want to support the Peony aka Lotus.

W September 8, 2011, 11:39 am Nancy, this HAS affected you directly. The money you work hard for was given to them to do illegal things with. Doesn\'t it bother you knowing that you work hard for your money and pay your taxes while these people don\'t?? Your money is paying their fines...

TP(T September 8, 2011, 12:11 pm So, who owns the business? Yes, convict Deong owns the building, according to the county land records, and convict Polly\'s brother, Luc, is the manager, so that must mean the the convicts still owns the business?

M September 8, 2011, 12:11 pm As prevously reported this property was seized by the government. Polly\'s brother had to have jumped through hoops to open his restaurant. As far as the land still being in her husband\'s name is a matter of the government not having yet transferred it into their name and then in turn to the new owner. It does not mean that Polly\'s husband is profiting from this. There is more going on than many of you understand and you should investigate their procedures of land transfers before you automatically condemn this restaurant. I will be trying this restaurant and make up my own mind and not follow the mass hysteria. I actually feel sorry for the new owner as he has picked up a big burden of all of your condemenation with your ignorance as to legalities on how he has obtained this business. Also, don\'t you think the \"powers that be\" in our community have supported the reopening of this business? It was a plus to have the option of a diverse eating establishment in our community. Small minded community members make our community a hard place to live and unwelcome to new residents. I was born in this community and have watched this happen time and time again. Too bad.

J September 8, 2011, 2:13 pm Once the former owners have nothing to do with this establishment and/or have finished serving their sentencing, I will once again support this restaurant. Until then, however, I can not support something that has proven illegal multiple times. Yes, it is a new manager, but that doesn\'t mean a new OWNER.

September 8, 2011, 2:17 pm Pollys direct family had nothing to do with what she and chan did. A brother of Polly\'s that lives in Jefferson bought it and Luc is managing it. Her brother in Jefferson owns his own restraunt. He does everything legally. Trust me Chan does not own it anymore. Give the restraunt a chance. Her brother in Jefferson is taking care of the kids and they are adjusting very well.

September 8, 2011, 2:30 pm If her brother in Jefferson owns it, then why does the article state, \"Benton County land records indicate that Chan Duong is still the owner of the building.\"?

JTVPC September 8, 2011, 3:21 pm I\'m getting a lot of calls and questions about this, so permit me to try to put some speculation to rest. As of today, Chan Duong is still listed as the owner of the BUILDING. He has, however, agreed to forfeit it to the government. For all practical purposes, this building as of today is his in name only, and it won\'t be for much longer. It needs to be transferred/titled to the Government, and then again to the new owner, and that process will take some time to accomplish. Chan Duong no longer owns the BUSINESS, as Peony Chinese Restaurant has now ceased to exist.

K September 8, 2011, 5:17 pm I agree with MS, Vinton is a very critical town, we don\'t give new restaurants a chance, how many \"good\" places have closed because we give them one chance and one chance only. Think of all the good places we could have to eat here in town if we wern\'t so judgemental. I feel it is nice to have a little variety to choose from again.

September 8, 2011, 6:01 pm Pretty soon y\'all will only have McDonalds to eat in cuz Vinton will find something wrong with every restaurant in town. Sounds like a good deal for CR or W\'Loo and they won\'t mind serving the Vintonions who feel this way!

s September 8, 2011, 8:06 pm thank you Jeff Tilson for clearing this matter. Yahoo!

TP(T September 9, 2011, 8:21 am Chief Tilson,
Do you know if the Federal Government already sold the building to Mr. Long? Wouldn\'t the government sell the property and equipment at auction to the highest bidder?
I\'d say I am surprised that the Feds moved this fast on disposing of the property and business already.

Thank you
Tom

S September 9, 2011, 1:05 pm Stop the insanity!!!..its very simple people, If you are disgusted with the business practices of the former owners and are reluctant to support Polly\'s brother.... then DON\'T... If you are wanting to give the \"new owners\" a chance ..then DO IT !! Whether they make it in Vinton or not will be as simple as looking at the cash registers receipts and matching to the guest checks that are left on the tables...... Its simple accounting isn\'t it?? I have a great Crab Rangoon recipe! :)