‘Everybody’s excited’: Heist Brewery to reopen in NoDa nearly 2 years after fire
Nearly two years after a kitchen fire forced Heist Brewery to shut down its longtime NoDa location, the brewery is preparing to reopen after an extensive remodel aimed at restoring — and refreshing — the popular neighborhood spot.
Owner Kurt Hogan told CharlotteFive that the reopening marks more than just a return for the brewery. It’s also an opportunity to rethink the layout of the space and improve operations after working around a kitchen originally designed for a much smaller menu.
“When we first opened close to 15 years ago, the idea was really just flatbread pizzas,” Hogan said. “The kitchen was never really designed for a full-service menu. The fire gave us an opportunity to rebuild it in a way that’s much more efficient for our staff.”
“We’ve always been a spot that takes our food scene seriously, there’s a heavy emphasis on not cutting any corners and doing as much from scratch as possible,” he added.
Heist Brewery fire
The fire, which started while a cook was using the stove top in the main kitchen, occurred in July 2024, CharlotteFive reported. The blaze later spread through the restaurant’s ventilation system, prompting a response from the Charlotte Fire Department. Firefighters brought the fire under control in about 40 minutes, and no injuries were reported. The fire was later ruled accidental.
The fire left the brewery without power and caused significant damage to the kitchen, forcing staff to throw away food and temporarily shut down. About two dozen customers were inside at the time and were safely evacuated. The brewery, which opened in NoDa in 2012, also received support from neighboring hospitality businesses that offered help and temporary work opportunities for affected employees.
Hogan said the road back has been lengthy, with delays slowing the rebuilding process in the early months after the fire.
“It’s been over a year and a half since we’ve been down,” said Hogan. “Once we finally got through the insurance process and really went full speed ahead, it’s been about six months of heavy construction.”
A redesigned space
While the brewery’s signature brick oven and wood-fired menu items are staying, much of the rest of the space has been reimagined. Hogan said one of the biggest changes was moving all brewing operations to Heist’s Barrel Arts location, allowing the NoDa brewery to prioritize dining space.
The former brew house equipment area has now been converted into additional seating, adding roughly 40 seats to the dining room. The bar has also been expanded into what Hogan described as a more prominent centerpiece for the restaurant, doubling the amount of bar seating.
“We wanted a more dominant dining room bar,” Hogan said. “The old bar was small relative to the size of the space.”
The brewery also reclaimed outdoor patio seating that had previously been used for brewing equipment and storage. Combined with the interior changes, Hogan said the remodel adds more than 100 seats overall.
Despite the overhaul, customers can expect much of the same Heist experience, Hogan said, including the brewery’s signature beers and longtime menu staples like its wood-fired flatbreads and beer cheese.
When will Heist Brewery reopen?
Even with the extensive changes, Hogan said the goal was still to preserve the spirit of the original brewery that became a staple in NoDa over the past 15 years. The original brew house structure remains in the building as a decorative centerpiece and a nod to the brewery’s roots.
As reopening approaches, Hogan said longtime customers and neighbors have already started stopping by to peek inside the renovated space.
“Everybody’s excited,” Hogan said. “Everybody who’s come in to check it out has been ready for us to be back.”
“It’s really just a fun, social, lively atmosphere where you can get awesome food, awesome drinks and just have a good time,” he added.
The brewery hopes to be open by Memorial Day weekend, Hogan said.
Heist Brewery
Location: 2909 N. Davidson St. Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28205
Instagram: @heistbrewery
