What Happened to Artful Dodger After Bar Rescue? (Huntington, NY)

Artful Dodger in Huntington, New York, was featured in "Bug Bite," the Season 4 premiere that aired October 5, 2014. Owner Mike Conforti had purchased the bar in 2006 and saw strong early revenue, but after promoter Brian Gordon joined in 2011, profits stagnated and the two men blamed each other for the decline. Recon visits found insects in open liquor bottles behind the bar and, more seriously, observed underage patrons obtaining alcohol despite security staff at the door. A stress test after initial retraining showed staff reverting to prior habits under pressure.

The rescue team's central idea was to use the building's auto-garage-style exterior as cover for a speakeasy concept inside, renaming the bar P's and Q's Auto Body and introducing Prohibition-themed cocktails and service training focused on speed and consistency. One month after the relaunch, sales were reported up roughly 30%, and reviewers described a distinct, well-received atmosphere combining vintage decor with live music and dancing. A fire in a neighboring business in March 2015 caused significant damage next door and forced P's and Q's Auto Body to close for repairs, according to Long Islander News; it reopened in May 2016 and continued operating for roughly two more years.

In October 2018, bartender and part-owner Michael Matarazzo bought out his fellow owners and closed P's and Q's Auto Body, according to Reality TV Updates, and the Long Islander reported on November 9, 2018 that he had held a grand opening for his own new bar in the space, Repeal XVIII, named for the repeal of Prohibition. As of mid-2026, Yelp's listing for Repeal XVIII shows more than 130 reviews with content dated as recently as July 2026, and the venue's own website describes a vintage-styled lounge with two bars, an outdoor beer garden, and regular weekend live music and DJ programming.