Divine Barrel Brewing is the latest business to temporarily close due to COVID-19.
Charlotte’s restaurants waited for weeks to reopen their dining rooms after first closing them in mid-March.
As Phase 2 of North Carolina’s reopening plan drew closer, restaurateurs opened the windows, dusted off the tables and brought back furloughed staff. On May 22, North Carolina officially entered into Phase 2, and restaurants were permitted to reopen dining rooms at 50% capacity.
But for some of Charlotte’s restaurants, the unthinkable then happened: an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
As COVID-19 cases rise across the state, Charlotte’s restaurants are not immune to community spread of the virus. Restaurants are not required to announce to staff or the public when an employee tests positive for coronavirus, yet several have. Some are also choosing to close temporarily, doing a deep clean while awaiting test results from other exposed employees.
Here is a list of Charlotte businesses that temporarily closed due to a positive case of COVID-19 — and details about the ones that have since reopened.
(1) Divine Barrel Brewing
Divine Barrel Brewing closed immediately on July 30 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee began exhibiting symptoms on July 26 and quarantined at home since then, according to the announcement on its Instagram. The restaurant will be sanitized before reopening, the restaurant said in the post.
(2) Juice Bar
(reopened July 20)
The Juice Bar in Plaza Midwood announced that an employee tested positive for COVID-19 on July 14. The Central Avenue location will remain closed while employees await the results of COVID-19 testing and until the restaurant has been thoroughly disinfected.
“Unfortunately this has happened to our Juice Bar. We will be back as soon as we safely can. Please stay healthy and safe out there and we’ll let you know when we’ll reopen,” the announcement stated.
(3) Tipsy Burro Saloon and Cantina
(reopened July 18)
Tipsy Burro announced its closing in a Facebook post on July 14.
“We will be closed until all employees have been tested and the proper steps have been taken to clean and sanitize. The safety of our staff and patrons are our utmost priority. Thank you for your support and understanding during these trying and confusing times,” the company stated.
(4) Suffolk Punch
(reopened July 18)
Suffolk Punch closed last week due to multiple employees testing positive for COVID-19. Suffolk Punch will reopen July 18, according to a post on its Instagram account. In the post, the brewery said the campus was professionally sanitized and the staff was tested or screened. Over the weekend, Suffolk Punch will only offer outdoor seating. Indoor dining will resume next week.
“This time-off has allowed us to be strategic in planning our reopening process to promote the safest environment possible,” Suffolk Punch stated in the post.
(5) The Office
The Office, a craft bar and kitchen in Indian Land, South Carolina, closed temporarily after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The restaurant announced the closing the night of July 15 on Instagram. After notifying staff and following the guidance of health officials, the restaurant reopened July 16 at 4 p.m.
“We follow all local guidelines. Our staff and guests (sic) health is our top priority,” the company stated in the post.
(6) The Crunkleton Charlotte
(reopened July 9)
The cocktail bar and restaurant closed on July 7 after an employee, who last worked on June 28, tested positive for COVID-19. After testing staff and deep cleaning the bar, The Crunkleton reopened on July 9.
“We are asking our staff and our community to stay vigilant about this virus. If we all work together, we can be safe and continue to enjoy The Crunkleton experience,” the restaurant stated.
(7) Futo Buta
(reopened July 9)
The popular ramen restaurant closed on July 2 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee worked in both locations of the restaurant group, Futo Buta and Lincoln’s Haberdashery. After testing employees and deep cleaning, the restaurant reopened on July 9 for takeout only.
(8) Lincoln’s Haberdashery
(reopened July 7)
Lincoln’s Haberdashery closed on July 2 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee worked in both locations of the restaurant group, Futo Buta and Lincoln’s Haberdashery. After deep cleaning the restaurant and testing employees, it reopened July 7 at 50% capacity, according to a post on the restaurant’s Instagram.
(9) Wooden Robot Brewery
(reopened July 7)
Wooden Robot closed both its South End and NoDa locations on June 29, after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The brewery initially planned to open for the July 4th weekend, but not all tests were back for the other employees, according to a post on its Instagram account. The brewery later reopened July 7.
(10) The Dumpling Lady
(reopened July 6)
The Dumpling Lady food truck and Optimist Hall food stall closed on June 29 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. Optimist Hall remained open while the stall closed. The food stall and food truck reopened on July 6.
“Thanks for the support, and see you soon,” the restaurant stated on Instagram, to announce its reopening.
(11) Stagioni
(reopened June 23)
Stagioni, owned by Bruce Moffet of the Moffet Restaurant Group, closed June 18 after an asymptomatic employee tested positive for COVID-19.
“We are excited to safely welcome everyone back this evening after we have tested all of our employees and received their negative results!” the restaurant announced on Instagram on June 23.
(12) Waterman Fish Bar
(reopened June 23)
The South End bar closed on June 17 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The restaurant reopened June 23.
“This experience has taught us to really have a top-notch health check-in,” Paul Manley, a partner at Waterman, told The Charlotte Observer. “My advice to other restaurants is to be transparent with staff and the health department.”
(13) Boardwalk Billy’s Raw Bar and Ribs
(reopened June 22)
The University area restaurant closed on June 18 because an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The restaurant reopened June 22 after undergoing a deep cleaning and testing staff.
(14) Resident Culture Brewing Company
(reopened June 19)
Resident Culture closed its drive-thru after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 on June 18. After undergoing cleaning procedures, the contactless drive-thru reopened June 19.
(15) Bojangles
(reopened)
A Bojangles located at 1402 W. Trade St. closed on June 30 after an employee tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
A Bojangles restaurant in Monroe at 2303 W. Roosevelt Blvd. closed for weeks in June after several employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Both locations are now open.
(16) Reid’s Fine Foods
(reopened)
The grocery store and restaurant closed its SouthPark location on June 15 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The worker was asymptomatic and believed to be an isolated case. The SouthPark location later reopened after cleaning the store.
Catherine Muccigrosso contributed to this report.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Divine Barrel Brewing is the latest business to temporarily close due to COVID-19.."
