Babylon’s rumor mill has been busy speculating since The James suddenly shuttered its doors earlier this month. The unexpected April 10 closure came with nothing more than a notoriously vague social media post, leaving residents to fill in the blanks. Now, as being reported in Newsday, ownership is finally speaking up, promising a swift reopening by the weekend. But given the mixed feelings locals already have about the venue, a healthy dose of skepticism seems completely warranted.

Owner Steve Squitiro is doing a bit of damage control, insisting that the abrupt shutdown is strictly temporary. He chalks the whole ordeal up to a simple clerical glitch with the New York State Liquor Authority, sparked by a sudden “change in corporate structure.”

Squitiro was quick to play defense, explicitly stating to the press that there were no fights, no violence, and no underage drinking involved. The Suffolk County Department of Health also confirmed a clean record for the eatery. While the main dining room sits dark, The James is still managing to host its scheduled private events, reportedly because they already hold the specific liquor permits for those gatherings. It is a convenient loophole, but one that leaves regular diners locked out on the sidewalk.

When Squitiro and partner Andrew Affa opened The James to great fanfare in 2024, it arrived with a massive wave of hype. However, it also had massive shoes to fill, having replaced The Carriage House—a true neighborhood institution that many Babylon locals still deeply, deeply miss. While Newsday might have swooned over The James’s sweeping staircase, head-turning artwork, and towering seafood platters, the flashy transition hasn’t been universally celebrated here in the village.

For many residents, the massive brasserie-style bar brought more headaches than charm, chief among them being the parking situation. Since its grand opening, parking around the venue has been a well-documented concern. The influx of out-of-town diners clogging our local streets has left many neighbors wondering if the iconic throwback dishes are really worth the daily disruption to our community

If there is one redeeming takeaway from Squitiro’s recent statements, it is his expressed concern for his employees. He noted that his primary worry is the 100 staff members currently out of work, calling them family and emphasizing his eagerness to get them back on the floor. That is a local sentiment we can all support.

The management team seems highly confident they will have their pending liquor license sorted out in a matter of days. We will be watching closely to see if they actually make that weekend deadline. Until those heavy doors officially swing open for the general public again, we will be taking the “clerical error” excuse with a grain of salt.