Lee's Chinese

154 E. Redwood Ave., Fort Bragg, CA 95437 — From the Welcome Inn Cafe and Family Cafe to Lee's Chinese, this downtown corner has served Fort Bragg for generations.

Overview

Lee's Chinese occupies a longtime restaurant location at the corner of East Redwood Avenue and Franklin Street.

Operating since approximately 1980 and owned by the Lina family since 1999, the restaurant has become a familiar part of downtown Fort Bragg.

Its history stretches back to the Welcome Inn Cafe and Family Cafe, remembered by residents who worked and ate there during the 1960s and 1970s.

Location

Located at 154 E. Redwood Avenue, the low, flat-roofed commercial building occupies a prominent downtown intersection.

Its straightforward design reflects the practical character of Fort Bragg's older commercial district, once surrounded by pharmacies, bars and neighborhood businesses.

History

### The Welcome Inn Cafe and Family Cafe

Local recollections suggest an earlier building was destroyed by fire and replaced with the present brick structure, possibly during the early 1960s. The date and circumstances remain unverified.

Ed Mertle reportedly owned the property and may have built the replacement. He also owned the neighboring Welcome Inn bar and was associated with Pine Beach Inn and KDAC radio station.

Residents recall a traditional diner featuring a U-shaped counter, raised booths and homemade pies.

By 1970, Bob and Bev Sallinen operated the Welcome Inn Cafe. Former employees remember that the couple later moved to the Mendocino Hotel.

During the 1970s, the restaurant was also known as the Family Cafe, although the exact date of the name change remains uncertain.

### Lee's Chinese

Lee's Chinese reportedly opened around 1980.

A community contributor recalls that his aunt originally opened the restaurant and remembers spending time there as a child around 1990.

In 1999, the Lina family purchased Lee's Chinese, as documented in Walter Frederick Lina's published obituary.

The restaurant continued under the family's ownership, establishing lasting relationships with local customers.

Family members were also associated with Yankee Doodle Doggy, a former hot dog business remembered near the present Drop-In Donuts location.

Community Memories

Former customers remember the earlier cafés for their homemade pies and comfortable diner atmosphere. Employees recall working for Bob and Bev Sallinen and preparing meals at the Family Cafe during the 1970s.

Lee's Chinese brought its own traditions. One family still has photographs from a birthday dinner celebrated there in 1982. Other residents remember favorite Mandarin dishes and familiar faces, including Angie, Susie and longtime employee Mr. Ko.

One particularly memorable account comes from a family that evacuated Paradise during the devastating 2018 Camp Fire. After losing nearly everything, they stopped at Lee's for their first meal following the evacuation.

The warm food and a place to sit indoors provided comfort during an extraordinarily difficult time.

Why It Matters

The history of 154 E. Redwood Avenue reflects the evolution of Fort Bragg's downtown dining establishments, from traditional American cafés to a longtime Chinese restaurant.

Its connections to Ed Mertle and the neighboring Welcome Inn preserve an earlier chapter of local commercial history.

Through changing ownership and generations of customers, the property has remained a place for meals, celebrations and community connections.