Uptown, Camp North End restaurants plan reopenings during COVID-19
Charlotte’s restaurants, breweries and other small businesses have wrestled with temporary closures, capacity restrictions and a sharp drop in revenue in the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On top of those struggles, some have also had an employee test positive for COVID-19 and chose to shut down again. Restaurants are not required to announce to staff or the public when an employee tests positive for the coronavirus, yet several have. Some, such as Leah & Louise, are also choosing to close temporarily, doing a deep clean while awaiting test results from other exposed employees.
The Camp North End restaurant closed last week after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. It worked to rebook reservations while awaiting tests for other staff members and had the building disinfected by Holy Fog CLT. It plans to reopen Wednesday.
Others, such as 5Church Charlotte, closed as a precautionary measure to protect from community spread of COVID-19.
After 10 months of being closed, 5Church announced on Friday that it will reopen its uptown restaurant on Feb. 4, with a few changes. Chef Jamie Lynch and Sherief Shawky, the restaurant’s new executive chef, and pastry chef Michaela Moehring will create several new items for the reopening.
After closing in March due to COVID-19, Stoke will reopen its uptown restaurant on Jan. 14, 2021. “After a difficult ten months for our industry and our neighbors in Uptown, it is refreshing to begin to see the revival of this district. We are thrilled to be a part of that with the reopening of Stoke, our local-focused, chef-driven dining concept,” Scott Siebert, general manager of Charlotte Marriott City Center, said in a statement. “Our culinary team is glad to be back in the kitchen preparing some of Charlotte’s most sought after dishes for hotel guests and locals.”
Here is a list of Charlotte businesses that have temporarily closed due to a positive case of COVID-19 or chose to shut down out of precaution because of rising caseloads.
5Church - reopening Feb 4
After 10 months of being closed, 5Church Charlotte announced that it will reopen on Feb. 4. “After an extremely difficult 2020, we are thrilled to be reopening 5Church Charlotte and look forward to serving our community again,” CEO Patrick Whalen said in a statement.
To coordinate with its reopening, 5Church will debut a new menu that includes a seafood tower with oysters, jumbo shrimp, lobster and Alaskan King Crab. It was inspired by the 5th Street Group’s restaurant Tempest Charleston, recently named the No. 1 “Best New Restaurant” in the country by USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2020.
704 Shop
The South End retailer has closed its store to in-person shopping this holiday season to keep its staff and customers safe from COVID-19. The store is offering curbside pickup and free shipping.
Amelie’s NoDa
Amelie’s French Bakery temporarily closed its NoDa location Monday, Dec. 14 to sanitize and deep clean the building after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
“We will ensure that any/all team members that may have been exposed have a negative test before returning to work at NoDa,” the management said via email and social media.
Birdsong Brewery
Birdsong Brewery said on Facebook on Tuesday, Dec. 8 that the taproom was closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The brewery on North Davidson Street in NoDa said the employee works primarily outside.
The brewery reopened Friday, Dec. 11, after the taproom was cleaned and fogged, a company post said.
Boatyard Eats
Boatyard Eats restaurant on Statesville Road in Cornelius said Monday, Dec. 28, it is temporarily shuttered.
Chris Boukedes said on the company’s social media page that the decision was made due to the “draconian restrictions” on the industry, including capacity limits, mask mandates and the 9 p.m. curfew.
“We have made the difficult decision to take a break for the next few weeks to provide our staff with a much-needed breather and to make some improvements that will ensure a reopening in early 2021,” Boukedes said.
Boatyard Eats touts itself as Lake Norman’s top live music venue with local and national bands performing on a stage that sits on an old boat levy.
Brewers at 4001 Yancey
Brewers at 4001 Yancey said on social media Tuesday, Dec. 29, it is temporarily closing after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
“We do not feel like any customer would have been put at risk,” the brewery post said.
The brewery reopened Saturday, Jan. 2, after working with officials on contact tracing and sanitizing the taproom.
The Yancey Road brewery temporarily closed for two days Dec. 8 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
The brewery issued a similar statement that said: “Due to the nature of the employee’s role at the taproom, and in accordance with CDC contact tracing guidelines, we do not feel like any customer would have been put at risk.”
The taproom reopened Dec. 10, saying enough staff members had cleared contact tracing and testing to be able to re-open.
Common Market South End
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Common Market South End convenience store, deli and bar, posted its temporary closure notice on Instagram on Sunday, Dec. 6.
“Unfortunately we learned that a staff member has tested positive for Covid-19,” the company said.
The market on West Tremont Avenue reopened Tuesday, Dec. 8 after the store was professionally sanitized and other staff were tested for the virus, according to the post.
The employee who tested positive had not been in the building since that Wednesday, management posted.
The Gin Mill
The Gin Mill South End on South Tryon Street closed temporarily after two employees tested positive, management posted on Facebook.
“This time will be used to have all of our other employees tested and a thorough cleaning and sanitization of the Gin Mill,” management posted.
It reopened Dec. 10, the company said on Facebook.
Hot Box Next Level Kitchen
Chef Michael Bowling posted on Hot Box Next Level Kitchen’s Instagram on Sunday, Dec. 13 that the restaurant would temporarily close after a staff member reported “symptoms related to COVID-19.”
“To ensure the safety of our staff and those we serve, we are temporarily closing until all staff are tested and confirmed negative,” Bowling said.
Leah & Louise
The Camp North End restaurant originally planned to close until Jan. 9 after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, but extended the closure until Jan. 13, Instagram posts said. The building was sanitized during the shutdown.
Lost & Found
Lost & Found on West Bland Street in South End said on social media Monday, Dec. 7 that it was closing temporarily indefinitely due to the pandemic and operation restrictions.
“We are devastated to have to lay off our staff once again especially before the holidays. This all could not have come at a worse time and this is truly heartbreaking to say the least,” the company post said.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery on Yancey Road in Charlotte temporarily closed its restaurant after an employee reported testing positive for COVID-19. After reporting the all-clear, the brewery has reopened.
SIP Bar & Cellar
Uptown business SIP Bar & Cellar on North Tryon Street said on social media Dec. 29 it would be closed until further notice after “taking into consideration the current climate of the pandemic.”
The bar will reassess in the new year and make an announcement about its reopening, the post said.
Skylark Social Club
Skylark Social Club on Central Avenue said on social media Jan. 2 that the bar and live music venue is closed until further notice. “Y’all stay safe! Wear your mask,” the post said.
As the number of COVID-19 cases rise throughout the country and “rip through our neighborhood” affecting friends and family members, Skylark Social Club will be closed until further notice, the post said.
“Please be patient as we figure out what to do ourselves, to make sure going forward we have the safest environment we can offer,” the post signed by the club staff said.
On Jan. 1, the bar posted it was closed for the night due to more COVID-19 in the neighborhood saying “we just would rather be safe than sorry.”
Skylark Social Club reopened Oct. 9 after being closed since March at the start of the pandemic.
Stoke
After closing in March due to COVID-19, Stoke will reopen its uptown restaurant on Jan. 14, 2021 with Chef Andres Prussing in charge of the kitchen. “After a difficult ten months for our industry and our neighbors in Uptown, it is refreshing to begin to see the revival of this district. We are thrilled to be a part of that with the reopening of Stoke, our local-focused, chef-driven dining concept,” Scott Siebert, general manager of Charlotte Marriott City Center, said in a statement. “Our culinary team is glad to be back in the kitchen preparing some of Charlotte’s most sought after dishes for hotel guests and locals.”
Sycamore Brewing
Sycamore Brewing in South End temporarily closed its taproom Dec. 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and colder weather. The brewery is open for delivery and pickup.
Thomas Street Tavern
Thomas Street Tavern said an employee tested positive on Friday, prompting the establishment to close until all employees can be tested and the site thoroughly cleaned, management posted on social media Saturday.
The Plaza Midwood bar reopened Thursday, Dec. 9.
Town Brewing Co.
Town Brewing Co. closed temporarily Sunday, Dec. 6 after an employee tested positive for the virus, the brewery posted on Facebook. The employee last worked on Friday and “had minimal interaction with customers,” according to the post.
The brewery on Grandin Road reopened Friday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.
“Please remember to wear a face mask and be mindful of social distancing when at our taproom,” the brewery said on Facebook.
TotalCyclist
TotalCyclist on Baybrook Lane said on social media Wednesday, Dec. 2 that it was temporarily closing “out of an abundance of caution.” The center reopened Dec. 8.
TotalCyclist owner Chad Andrews told the Observer last week that after seeing the “incredible” rise in COVID-19 cases, he voluntarily closed the center and moved to virtual workouts even though it’s typically his busiest time of year. There were no coronavirus cases at the fitness center.
“I just decided it was smart to close,” he said, “if there’s a huge surge after Thanksgiving.”
VBGB Beer Hall and Garden
VBGB Beer Hall and Garden said on social media Dec. 1 that due to the coronavirus and “limited operating capabilities,” the beer hall at Avidxchange Music Factory will temporarily close Dec. 13.
Villani’s Bakery
Paul and Amanda Villani said on the Villani’s Bakery Instagram on Sunday, Dec. 13 that an employee’s family member had tested positive for COVID-19.
“Unfortunately until we can get testing back from all employees that had worked yesterday, Villani’s Bakery will be closed until sanitation and testing is complete. We are sorry for any inconvenience and keep the employee and her family members in our prayers,” the owners said.
The Workman’s Friend
The Workman’s Friend on Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood closed after one employee tested positive, the Irish restaurant and pub posted on Facebook.
The Workman’s Friend reopened Dec. 9 “with a healthy staff.”
This story was originally published December 7, 2020 at 12:41 PM.
