The History of St. James Restaurant

The Freeman Family's association with the St. James Restaurant started in 1948 when Bill and Evelyn Freeman purchased the St. James Hotel.

Jonathan James, a Pennsylvania farmer who moved to Indiana in 1860, built the St. James Hotel in 1878. No one has an explanation as to how the name Saint was chosen, but it has been called this as long as anyone can remember.

By 1948 the once proud Hotel had turned into a deteriorating run down tavern on the verge of being closed down by the Indiana Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Bill started out determined to show everyone that he could make it a successful business again.

Over the years the St. James has continued to grow and expand. A new dining room was added in 1979 and the second story that once housed the hotel rooms was remodeled into a lounge and banquet room in 1983.

A new bar was built in 1991, as well as other remodeling. The size of the Freeman Family involved in the restaurant has also grown to include Tom, Bob and grandson Todd, granddaughter Meghan and Nicc Cox.

The St. James Restaurant has been recognized by the Indiana Restaurant Association as the Oldest Restaurant in Northern Indiana. St James also received the State of Indiana Centennial Business Award for outstanding contributions to economic growth and prosperity.

The Indiana Historic Society has also awarded St James the Historic Business Register Centennial Business Award, in recognition of more than a century of continuous business activity, service and contributions to Indiana’s economic growth and vitality.