After nearly two years of waiting, Heist Brewery's NoDa dining room is finally on the brink of reopening, and yes, the all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch buffet is coming back. A major renovation opened up new dining space, expanded the bar and rebuilt the kitchen so the spot can better handle full-service nights, private events and catering. Staff and owners say final inspections are the last hurdle before an official opening date is locked in.
Heist officials told reporters they hope to reopen “as soon as this week,” pending those inspections, according to Axios. A preview from the outlet shows the operational brew house removed to make room for roughly 40 extra seats and a larger U-shaped bar, and notes the brewery's popular brunch used to draw 450–500 people on Sundays. The piece also shares photos of the remodeled dining room and sample menu items from the refreshed lineup.
Fire And The Long Rebuild
A grease fire in July 2024 forced the NoDa location to close and kicked off a long recovery that included insurance delays and months of construction, as reported by the Charlotte Observer. The adjoining Canteen reopened about a month after the blaze and has been hosting private events and catering while the main dining space underwent its overhaul. Owner Kurt Hogan told the Observer the shutdown gave the team a rare chance to rebuild a kitchen that was never designed for a full-service menu in the first place.
What To Expect From The Renovation
The redesign brings in a full-service kitchen and a refreshed mezzanine for bar service, and original chef Kalil McClary teamed with new chef Andy Caswell to rework the menu, according to Axios. Returning favorites mentioned include chicken-and-waffle tacos, the Diablo burger and Heist's beer cheese. New dishes listed in the preview include wood-fired oysters, a Reuben sandwich and fish tacos. Sample prices published with the sneak peek show whole wings for $16 and panko-breaded cod tacos for $13, keeping the updated menu firmly in casual pub territory.
Where The Beer Will Be Brewed
Heist removed the operational brew house from the NoDa room and shifted production to its Barrel Arts facility, keeping the old brew structure in the dining room as a decorative nod to the brand, per the company's website. That move freed roughly 40 seats and lets the NoDa location focus on dining, private events and catering while production runs out of the Barrel Arts campus. Heist's official site continues to list both the NoDa and Barrel Arts locations for contact information and operating hours.
When The Doors May Reopen
The owners have been cautious about naming a firm date, but local press reports the team hoped to be operating by Memorial Day weekend; a final date will be posted once inspections are complete, according to the Charlotte Observer. For now, fans of the brunch buffet and NoDa regulars will have to keep refreshing Heist's social channels for the formal announcement and reservation details.
