Licking Park District levy is on the Nov. 3 ballot
The Licking Park District has a levy on the Nov. 3 ballot and is presenting on it at the Chamber's Oct. 23 AI-for-business lunch.
Sources: Johnstown Chamber calendar
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Johnstown openings, closings & civic news
Short summaries with links to the original reporting. We link out to local newsrooms like The Reporting Project and don't republish their stories.
Black Diamond Prime / Black Diamond Kitchen closes on Main Street
The Black Diamond steakhouse and taproom at 49½ S Main St closed in early October, about seven months after opening in March. The owners say the concept wasn't the right fit and are relocating to Obetz.
Johnstown voters will decide a data-center ban on Jan. 5, 2027
City Council voted at a Sept. 10 special meeting to put a citizen-petition charter amendment on a Jan. 5 special ballot. It would ban data centers over 25 megawatts of combined monthly demand. The petition missed the Nov. 3 ballot deadline; the special election could cost the city about $15,000. It would not stop the Cologix campus already under construction.
Sources: The Reporting Project · Newark Earthworks Herald
Council approves infrastructure & utility-capacity deal tied to large planned development
On Aug. 18, council approved an infrastructure development and utilities capacity reservation agreement with Johnstown Land Company II LLC and the Johnstown New Community Authority. It's linked to the larger planned development first proposed as a 417-acre mixed-use project by The New Albany Co. in 2023.
Sources: CivicIQ summary · NBC4 (2023 proposal)
The UPS Store opens at 721 W Coshocton St
A new UPS Store (shipping, printing, mailboxes) is now open on West Coshocton Street and has joined the Johnstown Area Chamber.
KANSAI HELIOS America opens coatings plant on Commerce Blvd
Industrial-coatings maker KANSAI HELIOS held a grand opening for its new production facility at 231 Commerce Blvd in Johnstown's industrial park.
Sources: KANSAI HELIOS Group
El Rey Mexican Restaurant is open at 65 S Main St
El Rey, which also has a New Albany location, opened downtown in early 2026. It's open daily (11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sundays until 9) and is hosting the Chamber's fall mixer on Nov. 5.
Sources: El Rey locations · Johnstown Chamber calendar
Explainer: the Jan. 5 data-center vote
Johnstown voters will decide whether to add a section to the city charter banning large data centers (over 25 megawatts of combined monthly demand). It got onto a special ballot through a citizen petition; 133 signatures were validated against a requirement of about 123. The ban would not stop the Cologix data-center campus already under construction. The full neutral explainer is in issue #1 of the newsletter.