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One of Babylon Village’s buzziest restaurants is making a comeback.
The James, a modern American brasserie at 21 Fire Island Ave., will officially reopen on Monday, May 4, after a sudden, weeks-long closure that left many locals wondering what happened.
The restaurant announced the news on social media, thanking the community for its support during what it described as an “unexpected” shutdown.
“We’re excited to share that we will be reopening on Monday, May 4,” the team said. “While it was a challenging time for our team, the support, patience, and encouragement we received from our community and guests meant more than we can properly express.”
According to a report from Newsday, the closure stemmed from a paperwork issue with the New York State Liquor Authority, which forced the restaurant to temporarily halt operations beginning April 10.
Owner Steve Squitiro confirmed to Newsday that the issue has since been resolved.
“We got reinstated. Our full liquor license is back up and running, and we can put this whole episode behind us. It was brutal,” he said.
Photos of The James, courtesy of Facebook
To mark the reopening, The James will roll out a week of specials from May 4 through May 9, including a $59 prix fixe dinner available nightly, 50 percent off bottles of wine priced over $150, and happy hour at the bar each night until 7 p.m.
The restaurant also took a moment to recognize its staff.
“We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible staff for their loyalty and resilience throughout this downtime,” the post read. “Your dedication is what makes everything we do possible.”
The James opened in 2024 from Long Island restaurateurs Andrew Affa and Squitiro, who also own The Piermont in Babylon and Arlo Kitchen & Bar in Northport. The concept transformed the former Babylon Carriage House into an upscale dining destination centered on dry-aged steaks with French influences.
“We’ve established strong roots in Babylon Village,” Squitiro previously told Greater Long Island. “We love it here.”
After a brief but disruptive pause, the team is now ready to get back to what it set out to do.
“We can’t wait to welcome you back, reconnect, and create memorable experiences together again,” the restaurant said.
The reopening comes as the team continues to expand its footprint. Affa and Squitiro are currently working on another concept in Nassau County, where they plan to transform the former Primehouse in Garden City into a new outpost modeled after The James, with an expected opening later this spring.
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