The old Shawnee Tavern, rebranded as the Black Diamond Tavern, draws a full crowd within COVID-19 safety parameters to Wednesday Wing Night. Town residents and Ohioans from nearby communities are drawn to what seems to be the only area restaurant outside Athens and Logan that s not a drive-thru.
Down the street, construction is underway for what will be a co-working space, a retail shop and Airbnb rentals on the second stories. One building, originally constructed in 1912, will eventually house local beer and spirits crafted by students from Hocking College’s fermentation science program in the Black Diamond Brewery & Distillery.
“The plan is to initially focus upon southeast Ohio, and if we have the success, we believe we can have, we will expand beyond a regional beer,” Black Diamond Development company spokeswoman Jenny Maher, said.