Hocking College and Black Diamond Brewing & Distillation Company Launch Culinary Incubator in Heart of Nelsonville

(September 4, 2025) Nelsonville, Ohio - Hocking College (Hocking) and Black Diamond Brewing & Distillation Company LLC have announced a new partnership that will bring an innovative culinary incubator to Nelsonville, uniting education, entrepreneurship and regional revitalization under one roof.

The initiative centers on the creation of the Black Diamond Kitchen, a full-service restaurant located at 185 West Canal Street, in Young Hall on the Hocking campus. Situated alongside the Black Diamond Taproom, this new dining destination will serve gourmet sliders, flatbreads and locally inspired fare while also functioning as a test kitchen for Black Diamond and a dynamic training ground for students in Hocking’s Culinary Arts program.

“This project represents the best of what public-private partnerships can achieve,” said Hocking President Dr. Betty Young. “Our students gain meaningful, real-world experience while contributing to the vibrancy and economic growth of our community.”

As part of the partnership, culinary students will take on roles in kitchen operations, food preparation and customer service, offering them immersive industry exposure while still in school. The Black Diamond Kitchen will serve as a test kitchen for the broader Black Diamond enterprise, which includes taprooms in Circleville, Greenfield, Shawnee and Nelsonville, and is part of a larger vision by Black Diamond Brewing & Distillation Company and its affiliated development and hospitality ventures.

Hocking, long known for its commitment to experiential education, sees this collaboration as a natural extension of its mission to prepare workforce-ready graduates. The college has a history of engaging in entrepreneurial projects that benefit students while advancing regional development, making the Black Diamond partnership a strong and strategic fit.

The Black Diamond Kitchen is slated to open later this year and is expected to become a cornerstone of Nelsonville’s growing downtown scene, drawing tourists and locals alike while showcasing the next generation of culinary talent emerging from Hocking College.

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