Brewery Bhavana plans to reopen with curbside pickup

"There is still a lot of work to be done, and as we begin, we recommit ourselves to operating a brewery and restaurant that supports our entire community. We’ve reorganized and replaced elements of our leadership team, and we are in the process of hiring of a new CEO who will bring a fresh perspective and a renewed leadership," co-owners Vanvisa Nolintha and Patrick Woodson wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

The post said that the restaurant would "start small and rebuild, beginning with curbside service very soon (more information to come)."

Brewery Bhavana and its sister restaurant, Bida Manda, have been closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In June, former employees came forward to WRAL, describing an environment that involved the objectification of male and female employees, allegations of sexual assault and a culture of silence.

Award-winning Raleigh restaurant owner steps away amid accusations of misconduct

Sara Dye, who managed the bookstore at Bhavana from February 2018 to December 2018, was one of the first former employees to speak publicly with an Instagram post describing a sexual assault by a fellow employee in July 2018.

Dye said she came forward now with her story following reports that a black employee at Bida Manda had been called a slave in front of other coworkers by one of the members of the management team in February.

In a now-deleted post on Bida Manda’s Instagram page, Van and Vanvisa Nolintha wrote that they “did not act decisively” regarding the incident. The manager accused of making the slave remark has since resigned, according to an internal email sent to staff members and obtained by WRAL.

Current owners Vanvisa Nolintha and Patrick Woodson launched a third-party investigation into the workplace accusations and said that they are searching for a new CEO.

They also said they planned to create a professional Human Resources function so there would be "in-house expertise to address employee issues." In addition, the owners wrote that they are planning to provide "diversity/anti-harassment/implicit bias training for staff and managers as a permanent and required part of our ongoing education."

Following the allegations, Van Nolintha, who is Vanvisa's brother, stepped away from both restaurants, saying that he planned to no longer serve as a managing partner in the restaurants and divest his ownership.

Hester was let go from the company after the allegations. WRAL has spoken with 10 women, some of whom were employed at Bida Manda at the time, who allege Hester sexually assaulted or harassed them.

Ten women tell WRAL former Raleigh restaurants manager sexually assaulted or harassed them