Hocking College has ceased all restaurant operations at the Inn at Hocking College in order to help close a potential $1.2 million budget shortfall.
Though guest rooms at the Inn closed in June 2011, the Starbrick Bistro and Foxfire Lounge, as well as banquet services, remained open to the public until December 31, 2011 .
In October 2011, the college contracted Panich and Noel Architects in Athens to conduct a study on practical ways the Inn would be put to further use.
“(The architecture firm) are exploring many different directions regarding the feasibility of the Inn,” said Laura Alloway, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Hocking College. “The closures at the Inn could possibly temporary, depending on what we get back from the feasibility study.”
The Inn had sustained a loss of $245,662 in the 2011 fiscal year and $194,192 in the 2010 fiscal year. In effort to help close a potential budget shortfall, due to a decrease in enrollment, the college determined in November that the restaurant operations at the Inn would cease, and until further notice be absorbed into its academic programs.
Because the results of the study won’t be available until the week of January 30, the college decided to put all plans for public service on hold, and make additional decisions regarding the Inn after a review of the final proposal.
