Charlotte restaurants must close dining rooms temporarily per Gov. Cooper’s orders
Editor’s note: On Tuesday morning, Gov. Roy Cooper said he will order North Carolina restaurants and bars closed except for takeout and delivery orders. The executive order will be effective at 5 p.m. Tuesday and will also include an expansion of unemployment insurance. Check out our list of restaurants that will be offering to-go, curbside pickup and delivery.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to progress, it brings more bad news for local restaurants. Recent guidance from the CDC urges that events and gatherings of 50+ people should be canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks. On Monday afternoon, President Trump said Americans should avoid gathering in groups of 10 or more and stay out of restaurants and bars for at least the next 15 days, citing new guidelines issued by federal health officials.
What does that mean for restaurants? In an effort to protect loyal patrons and encourage social distancing, many local restaurants are temporarily closing their doors. Some will offer curbside pickup, but for the rest — you’ll have to wait out the virus.
Even if you can’t make it out to your favorite spot, consider buying a gift card to use later, as local businesses need our help more than ever.
44 Mills Kitchen + Tap
The Cabarrus County restaurant will be closed indefinitely. “We are sad to do so and this has been an extremely tough decision, but we know it’s the best option for our families, team members and guests. We are hoping that you, as our guests, can still find ways to support us remotely, through purchase of gift cards to be used when we reopen,” the team stated on Instagram.
204 North
Mason Jar Group has decided to temporarily close all of its restaurants. “Our hearts are breaking for our 250 employees, as well as for our industry as a whole.” Twenty percent of all online gift card sales will be given to employees.
5Church
“This has not been an easy decision for us or one we have taken lightly,” the 5Street restaurant group said in a statement on Sunday. Here’s a link to purchase a gift card for later.
7th Street Public Market
7th Street Public Market announced it will close temporarily effective 6 p.m. Wednesday. For a limited time, Assorted Table Wine Shoppe, Viva Raw, Orrman’s Cheese Shop, Zia Pia Imports & Italian Kitchen, and Tank’s Tap are offering direct to customer options for a limited time, according to the market. Customers should contact the business directly to place an order.
Belfast Mill Irish Pub
There will be no St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Belfast Mill Irish Pub in uptown on Tuesday. The restaurant posted Monday night “it is with a heavy heart” it will “close for the foreseeable future.”
“It is not an easy decision but it is the responsible decision as we all navigate through this difficult time,” the post stated.
Carpe Diem
Carpe Diem Restaurant & Caterer posted a notice on Facebook on Monday night that it is closed through the end of the month.
“Over more than 30 years in business, we have survived three moves, endless road construction and a host of other challenges. We are in it for the long haul and want all of our customers to stay in, stay safe and come back to celebrate with us when this has passed.”
CAVA
CAVA is shutting down its dining rooms at all locations and is allowing to-go orders only. Place your order online.
Charlotte Beer Garden
The city’s biggest taproom will be closing at 10 p.m. March 16 for in-house dining. Takeout and curb-side pickup will be available beginning March 19. Details on ordering will be available in the coming days.
Chima
Chima Steakhouse in uptown announced on Facebook on Monday it is closed through Wednesday for the “health and safety” of employees and guests.
Chopt
Dining rooms are being closed at all locations. Online ordering is being offered at some locations (but not Charlotte, currently.)
The Cowfish
“Keeping the safety and health of our teams and our guests at the forefront of our minds, The Cowfish team has decided to temporarily close ...The Cowfish Charlotte ... due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, effective immediately. While we hate to close our doors even for a minute, we feel it is the best course of action to take at this time for all of us,” the restaurant wrote in an Instagram post.
The Crunkleton
The Crunkleton will continue to pay its employees during this time of temporary closure, the restaurant team stated on its Instagram page. The restaurateur also offered some advice for us all:
“Here’s what *you* can do:
1️⃣ It would mean the world to us (and other small businesses!) if you purchased a gift card. These funds give us a little more stability. You can buy yours on our website, link in bio!
2️⃣ Take care of each other. Remember, we are all in this together; and while this is not an easy decision, we do believe it is what is right for everyone. Take this time to rest and check in on your neighbors.
It is a pleasure being your neighborhood bar, and we look forward to hosting you again soon.”
Doc Porter’s
“Effective immediately, we are closing our doors to the public in an effort to do everything possible to flatten the curve,” the distillery team posted. “As many other small businesses have noted, this is the right thing to do even though it’s REALLY f*cking painful.”
The team offered a creative solution in the meantime, however. “While we don’t have the ability to take sales online, here’s what we propose: use this time to responsibly consume what’s currently in your liquor cabinet and then when the situation changes, we’ll be ready and waiting to stock you back up.”
Dogwood
Dogwood A Southern Table in South Park will be closed temporarily, effective Monday, March 16.
Rare Roots Hospitality, the Charlotte-based restaurant group that includes Dogwood, has not set a date to reopen.
“We’ve been closely monitoring what they experts are saying, and we believe that this now means closing our doors temporarily,” said restaurant group owner Jon Dressler.
Dressler encouraged diners to purchase gift cards.
“I encourage everyone to find ways in the coming days to support local small businesses and each other as we navigate this time together,” Dressler said.
Dressler’s
Dressler’s upscale restaurant with locations on Metropolitan Avenue and at Birkdale Village also is closed temporarily. It is part of the Rare Roots Hospitality group.
Fin & Fino
Fin & Fino, tabbed “a social seafood house” in uptown, has closed with no opening date. It’s part of the Rare Roots Hospitality group.
Galway Hooker
Galway Hooker Irish Pub in Cornelius will be closed for St. Patrick’s Day and the rest of the week. The pub’s Facebook post states: “Our restaurants have provided us with more friends and family than we could’ve ever imagined and with them in mind, we have decided to temporarily close the Galway Hooker Irish Pub for this week. We have been so fortunate to have made St. Patrick’s Day at the Galway Hooker a staple for this area but with the news releasing almost every hour we feel as though the right thing to do is for our friends to remain cautious and safe at home.”
Grace O’Malley’s
Mason Jar Group has decided to temporarily close all of its restaurants. “Our hearts are breaking for our 250 employees, as well as for our industry as a whole.” Twenty percent of all online gift card sales will be given to employees.
Haymaker
“As a chef, I tend to work in a linear mindset and have a sense of “mise en place” for everything in the kitchen and in life,” Chef William Dissen stated on Instagram. “This is an instance where much of what is happening is out of my control. I feel that we as a community need to band together to help break the cycle of this current COVID-19 pandemic by practicing social distancing, and staying at home with our friends, family, and loved ones. This has proved to be (a) very difficult decision, and frankly the hardest of my career, but ultimately the right decision — for everyone involved.” The restaurant will be closed until at least March 30.
Hickory Tavern
Hickory Tavern locations at Ballantyne and Gastonia are offering curbside pickup and delivery noon-8 p.m. daily. The menu is limited to food such as wings, tenders, burgers and tacos. Also offered at take and bake family packs, wing tailgate packages and beer and wine to go.
The Hill Bar & Grill
This Mint Hill staple suspended dine-in service, but is offering a new curbside pick-up service beginning March 17. Call (704) 573-7212 to order. Owner Dave Andrews is working to balance the needs of hourly workers with a concern for community health, and every little bit counts.
Kindred
The restaurant is closing its dining room but still offering delivery and curbside pickup. “We are brokenhearted to temporarily close our doors, but it is necessary for the safety and well-being of our team and our guests,” the team stated on Instagram.
Let’s Meat KBBQ
The restaurant has decided to close for the time being, postponing its 2-year anniversary party and thanking pioneers Girl Tribe Co., Hygge, Sycamore Brewing and 5Church for leading the way.
Lost and Found
The bar will be closing indefinitely, waiting on further clarification before announcing its reopening date.
NoDa Brewing
NoDa Brewing has closed both taprooms to the public and canceled all events until further notice. The brewery will be offering a “drive-thru” service in the N. Tryon parking lot from 4-7:30 p.m. this Monday-Thursday. Stay tuned for weekend hours. Drop by to get four packs, crowlers, gift cards and merch to-go, without ever getting out of your car.
POPLAR
The Fourth Ward restaurant is suspending the option to dine-in at its location on 224 W. 10th Street. Beginning Tuesday, a special take-out menu will be offered Tuesday-Saturday from 5-9 p.m. Place your order over the phone (704-940-5757) and park in front of POPLAR in one of the three spaces on W.10th Street. A team member will bring your order to your vehicle. If you prefer a ‘contact-free handoff’, the employee will leave your food on the hood of your car or another requested spot. The team is also working to set up delivery with Uber Eats and Doordash.
The Porter’s House
The Porter’s House in South Charlotte, off Providence Road near Interstate 485, also has temporarily suspended service, according to Rare Roots Hospitality.
Protagonist
The NoDa brewery will be closed for at least a week, beginning Monday. The team will be making updates on its social platforms about to-go, pickup, and delivery options soon. “We want to make sure we keep the beer flowing in a responsible way for our amazing beer community. We love y’all,” a post stated on its Instagram.
Ri Ra
Ri Ra Irish pub and restaurant will not be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year. The restaurant announced Monday afternoon on Facebook that is closed until further notice.
“While we know that many of you were looking forward to celebrating with us on St. Patrick’s Day, we hope that you understand that this is, we feel, the most responsible action to take,” the post stated.
Queen’s Coffee Bar
The coffee shop on Pegram Street near Optimist Park, Belmont and Villa Heights will be closed until further notice.
Seoul Food Meat Co.
“We have made the very difficult decision of closing immediately to effectively practice social distancing in hopes to help contribute to putting a stop to this awful virus,” the restaurant posted on Instagram today.
“That’s the unvarnished details. The nuanced take is we need, as a local and global community, to do everything we can to stem the growth of this virus. Closing protects not only our staff and customers, but also our parents and grandparents, first responders and the healthcare providers that are essential and do not have the choice to take time off. This was not an easy decision to make and certainly not without its consequences to us as a business and to our staff who are the heart of this operation. This is not the time for half measures and cynicism. Now is the time to lead by example. We hope you understand and continue to support us and your local businesses as this progresses. After we have successfully navigated through to the other side of this event we hope to see you as we resume normal operations and return to a life we all recognize,” the Instagram post read.
Sycamore Brewing
The taproom is closed, but in the meantime: support the brewery by picking up some Paloma Gose in your next grocery delivery order. “This is about making sacrifices for the greater good of our community. Those on the front lines — firemen, nurses, physicians, police, etc. — do not have a choice about doing their jobs,” owner Sarah Brigham told reporter Laurie Larsh on Sunday night.
“The private sector has an obligation to minimize the risk to those public servants just as it has an obligation to protect employees and customers and the most vulnerable in our community. As it relates to our business, we believe the way the beer community ignores or confronts the COVID-19 risk in an ineffective way, the downstream effects, although somewhat hidden, are most certainly worsened.”
Sophia’s Lounge
In addition to temporarily closing 5Church, 5Street Group is pausing operations at Sophia’s Lounge.
Tilt on Trade
Mason Jar Group has decided to temporarily close all of its restaurants. “Our hearts are breaking for our 250 employees, as well as for our industry as a whole.” Twenty percent of all online gift card sales will be given to employees.
Tin Roof
Tin Roof in uptown’s Epicentre said Monday night on Facebook it is closed until further notice. Tin Roof, an entertainment destination with live music and games, serves lunch and dinner daily, according to the website.
The Union
Mason Jar Group has decided to temporarily close all of its restaurants. “Our hearts are breaking for our 250 employees, as well as for our industry as a whole.” Twenty percent of all online gift card sales will be given to employees.
Wooden Robot
Wooden Robot is pausing taproom operations during this time. The brewery is offering to-go options until further notice. All crowlers are on sale for $10 at the South End location.
VBGB
The Music Factory favorite has decided to suspend operations, beginning Monday, for at least 14 days. “We can not (sic) ignore the advice of all local, state, federal and global health officials,” the team posted on its Instagram page.
Black Wednesday and Hygge join forces to help small businesses
Additionally, Black Wednesday owner Corri Smith and Hygge owner Garrett Tichy launched a website supportlocalorelse.com. “It’s free for businesses to engage, they just have to create a promotion/deal/way for people to support them remotely or in the future,” Smith said in an email.
To participate, businesses can submit a form through the site and Smith and Tichy are listing them as they come in. “We want this to be as robust as possible, during a time when they/we/I need all the support they/we/I can get; we already have brands like Sycamore, Girl Tribe, Bardo and Glory Days Apparel, UpDog Kombucha listed, with more coming in as I write,” she said.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 1:33 PM.
