The bartender Jim Meehan, a pioneering figure in the craft-cocktail revival, is no longer involved in PDT, the acclaimed East Village speakeasy that he helped found 12 years ago. He confirmed this week that he was forced out of his position as a managing partner, as part of an organizational restructuring in March .

“It’s almost like a divorce,” Mr. Meehan said Tuesday in an interview. “This was not my decision, and I didn’t want to be let go.”

Jeff Bell, the bar’s general manager , who started there nine years ago as a barback, said he is in the process of buying the bar and Crif Dogs, the adjacent hot-dog joint on St. Marks Place, from Brian Shebairo, the current owner of the two businesses. When the state liquor license Mr. Bell applied for about seven months ago comes through, he said, he will take over and buy out Mr. Meehan.

Mr. Bell said the decision to part ways with Mr. Meehan “came from the current ownership,” meaning Mr. Shebairo. Mr. Shebairo did not respond to multiple texts asking for comment.