Tinker Street restaurant reopens, chef and servers back on the job

Nearly two weeks after an employee strike closed Tinker Street and its chef walked out saying he would never return, the Indianapolis restaurant reopened at 5 p.m. April 10 with most of its previously disgruntled workers back on the job.

Ten of the 11 dining room employees who walked out, as well as chef Braedon Kellner who quit after the strike started, returned as the result of an arrangement that put ownership of the restaurant into the hands of Kellner and Tinker Street co-founder Thomas Main, Main said.

Peter George, who founded the business with Main in 2015, is no longer associated with the restaurant. George declined comment.

Tinker Street shuttered March 28 when its front-of-house staff refused to work in the wake of their allegations that a server had been wrongly fired.

"I'm proud that they expressed their concerns, and put action behind their heartfelt words," Main told IndyStar at Tinker Street Monday as employees were busy setting up the dining room and cooks were testing new recipes in the kitchen.

"There were issues related to personnel and workforce dynamics that we cannot delve into, but what has emerged is new partnership that the staff, Chef Braedon and I feel very strongly about," Main said, declining further comment.

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Prior to the strike, Kellner had been in negotiations to buy Tinker Street from George and Main. The employee's dismissal, plus the walk-out, convinced Kellner to end his association with the restaurant, Kellner told the IndyStar March 30.

He changed his mind in the aftermath.

"I've always had great love for this restaurant. The whole staff and everything just felt like family. Knowing that I was able to retain the majority of the staff, I just didn't want to see this whole dream that was Tinker Street fade away," Kellner said April 9.

Kellner debuted a new menu Tuesday that excludes the restaurant's vegetarian section, billed "Botanical," and weaves meatless items among starters and large plates.

On March 30, George confirmed that the server strike began March 28, but he would not say why staff left. The same day, Main said he was not ready to comment.

Twelve people work the restaurant's dining room, George and Main have said. Eight employees staff the kitchen, Kellner has said.

The server who was fired, Alexandria Tiano, told IndyStar that George told her she was being dismissed for being late. Tiano had worked at Tinker Street for two weeks, and said she accidentally confused the day she was scheduled to work. She received a verbal warning from a manager who is no longer with the restaurant and has declined comment.

Tiano said she continued to work for a week and a half before George fired her.

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"He basically told me my managers weren't doing their job right, and I should've been fired," the 25-year-old said.

Tiano has since landed a new serving job. She said she was stunned by the outpouring of support she received from those in the community, as well as the serving staff who staged the walkout.

"It's something that people talk about that they're going to do, but they don't do it," she said. "So it just warmed my heart that it was my generation, and that the support was real."

Rumors about the firing blew up in angry comments in reply to March 28, 29, 30 and 31 posts about the closing on Tinker Street’s Facebook page. The March 28 post said the restaurant was closed to give the staff a night off. That message is no longer posted.

On March 29, a post said, "Our restaurant will be closed tonight.” The March 30 post said “Tinker Street will be closed until further notice. We’d like to thank our loyal customers for their support, and we will keep you all posted with updates on the future of our restaurant.”

On March 31, a post indicated the business might be salvaged: “Thanks to all who have voiced their support for Tom and the staff of team Tinker. We are working with the Tinker Street family to maintain a positive and supportive environment going forward. More updates to come,”

Launched in early 2015, Tinker Street, 402 E. 16th St., quickly became one of the city's top restaurants and maintained that status.

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Straddled between Herron-Morton Place and Old Northside neighborhoods, it has drawn wine lovers for its refined yet approachable list served with New American fare. The restaurant is also known for outstanding service.

In December 2017, Main and George sold their other restaurant Festiva, 1217 E. 16th St., a few blocks away from Tinker Street. The pair also discussed possibly opening two other restaurants, Barbecue Barn, next door to Festiva, and an Italian restaurant across the street from Tinker.