A postcard view of the beach with the Balinese in the background.

.....The building underwent many names, starting as "Chop Suey", then "Maceo's Grotto", followed by "Sui Jen". World War II sentiments made the final name change to "The Balinese Room" after Pearl Harbor. The Balinese room was made famous by its gambling , entertainment and food in the forties and fifties.

.....The long entry hall was ideal for making it difficult to be raided by the law authorities. To get in, the police would have to get into the front entrance, through the ballroom, and down a long hall to get to the gambling room. Buzzers were set up so as soon as the police entered from the seawall, the gambling tables were alerted. In the time it took 'the law' to get to the gambling rooms, the gaming tables were converted to bridge tables, and the slot machines were hidden from site.

.....The club was not raided by the Galveston police. According to the police chief, he never raided the private club because he "was not a member." On May 30, 1957, a new sheriff, Paul Hopkins, raided the Balinese Room. He had two detectives disguised as gamblers stop the owners when the alarm buzzers went off. The equipment was destroyed and another piece of Galveston's colorful history ended.

.....The building has been restored and is currently operating as a nightclub. and many shops line the walkway out to the club. For more images of the Balinese, follow this link.

The Balinese today.