On a recent weekday afternoon, the Lotus Cardroom and Café in downtown Portland was bustling. Jazz flowed from the speakers. People in business attire huddled in wooden booths, chatting and eating their lunch. Others sat at the bar, sipping cocktails.

The Lotus, established in 1924, is both a modern restaurant and a throwback.

“I like the wood,” said Mischa Seablom, after finishing her lunch. “It feels comfortable and dark and warm and inviting. There’s also a feeling of privacy. You can have an intimate connection with someone if you want to, or just a nice meal, or a drink after work.”

However, the Lotus, now operating at 932 S.W. Third Ave., could soon need a new home. Ankrom Moisan Architects in September discussed with the Bureau of Development Services the possibility of a full-block development at Southwest Third Avenue and Taylor Street. The project could include a new building 19 to 20 stories with a boutique hotel and 100,000 square feet of office space, and 43 to 100 parking spaces.

John Plew, the Lotus’ owner, has been in contact with Eugene-based House of Gold Inc., which owns 7/8 of the block bound by Southwest Second and Third avenues, and Salmon Taylor streets. Plew said that he was told that nothing is official yet, but the project apparently is moving forward. If so, the Lotus’ space, the Good Earth Café building and a parking garage on Taylor Street would be demolished.

Since purchasing the Lotus 25 years ago, Plew has known that there was a possibility of the block being redeveloped. Now he has mixed feelings about it.

“It’s tough,” he said. “But I’m excited that there’s some development going on downtown because it’s been some time. I’m mixed. I’m excited that downtown is changing. But if we owned the building, we probably wouldn’t be doing anything.”

Plew has heard whispers that following redevelopment, the Lotus may be asked to return to the block. He also is looking at perhaps moving the Lotus to central downtown or the Pearl District. A historic building would be ideal because Plew wants to keep the Lotus’ main, 30-foot wooden bar and perhaps the wooden bar in the cardroom.

“We’d want to try to replicate what we have now,” he said. “We would want to find a new home that allows us to recreate an historical feeling, American bar and grill like it is now.”

Even if a new home was found for the Lotus, the original joint would be missed if it were demolished.

“It would be a loss,” Seablom said. “It’s not shocking. It’s not surprising. But it would be very disappointing.”

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