"We're very proud of what we have built. We created a business that was fun and friendly and we helped this neighborhood discover some of its potential." These were the words of Lock 31 co-owner Sam Bugna.

One of Center Street's leading lights, and an oft-touted symbol of Ellenville's continuing recovery, will be going dark in the near future. Lock 31, the brainchild of Sam and Andrew Bugna, is announcing that it will be closing its doors after less than three years in operation.

Though she was unable to give specific dates, Bugna did say that the restaurant's dining room will remain open for a few more weeks while the establishment's bar portion will remain open for some time after that.

Bugna was hesitant to explain why she and husband Andrew had decided to close the business, though she did allude to the fact that they have not been satisfied with their current location at 81 Center Street and have been "actively looking for a new space for quite some time." Bugna went on to say that the building has been for sale for a while and that she felt that Lock 31 and building owner Michael Halladay were both of the opinion that it was time for a change.

With regard to a possible move to a new location within the village, Bugna explained that "ABC laws" (Alcohol and Beverage Control) prevented her from moving to a new location.

Ellenville Building Code Enforcement Officer Brian Schug explained that New York State law prohibits any establishment from selling liquor (not necessarily beer and wine) within 200 feet of a house of worship or place of education. That distance is measured door-to-door, not property line to property line. However, since the downtown village area is home to 13 houses of worship, possible sites for a future Lock 31 are very limited.

Speaking further about the decision to close, Bugna said, "There were all of these individual things that I was dealing with and then I started seeing the whole picture and they all seemed to be pointing at the same thing," Bugna said. "When I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that maybe it was about time."

When asked whether the restaurant's closing was a permanent end to the family's business interests in the area, Bugna said, "Andrew is calling this a hiatus."

Asked what she and husband Andrew will do once the business closes its doors, Bugna says that she plans to spend time with her children C.J., Mally and Drew. She explained that the hours being worked on a weekly basis by both her and Andrew were also a consideration in determining Lock 31's future. "I want to spend some time with my kids. I think they deserve that."

Bugna wanted to thank all of her customers, "Since we opened we have received so much support – so much love. We have been truly humbled by all of it. One of the best things about having this business is all of the friends we made because of it."

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