PORT ORANGE, FL — The name Sidarth “Sid” Sethi is once again making waves in Volusia County, and not for the reasons he once hoped. The former owner of Fysh Bar & Grill, a short-lived but high-profile waterfront restaurant in Port Orange, has reportedly been arrested—bringing closure to a saga that left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Daytona Beach area foodies.

Fysh opened in October 2022 with grand ambitions. The two-story, 18,000-square-foot venue boasted sweeping views of the Halifax River, a sprawling menu, and a promise to become a local landmark. But behind the scenes, financial mismanagement and mounting debt quickly unraveled the dream. Within just 18 months, the restaurant had accumulated over $6.6 million in liabilities, including $300,000 in unpaid rent and more than $500,000 in delinquent state and federal taxes2.

The fallout was swift and painful. Vendors were left unpaid, employees blindsided, and the community—many of whom had supported the restaurant’s launch—felt betrayed. Sethi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2024, a move that temporarily shielded him from creditors but did little to restore public trust.

Now, with news of his arrest, the final chapter of the Fysh saga may be unfolding. While the specific charges have yet to be publicly detailed, the arrest follows months of legal battles, including eviction proceedings and lawsuits from landlords and suppliers. For many in the Daytona Beach area, the development feels like long-awaited accountability.

The property at 3633 S. Ridgewood Ave. has since been reborn as Tiki Docks, operated by 23 Restaurant Services—a Tampa-based hospitality group known for successful ventures like Ford’s Garage. The new restaurant has been met with positive reviews and a fresh start, but the memory of Fysh’s collapse still lingers in the local consciousness.

For longtime residents and food lovers, Sid’s arrest isn’t just a headline—it’s a reminder of how quickly ambition can sour when integrity is lost. Fysh promised a lot, but in the end, it delivered disappointment. And now, justice may finally be catching up.

That’s all for now. Carry on, Daytona.