Revitalizing a Historic Factory: ZESCO Delivers a High-Performance Kitchen for Journeyman Distillery

Journeyman Distillery’s expansion into Valparaiso, Indiana, presented an exciting opportunity to bring new culinary energy into a beautifully repurposed historic building. What once stood as a bleak industrial space has been reimagined into a vibrant restaurant and hospitality destination — one requiring a commercial kitchen that could support diverse menu offerings, high-volume service, and a seamless guest experience.

To meet these demands, the ownership team partnered with ZESCO Foodservice to deliver expert design services, kitchen design, and design project management. Led by Project Manager Josh Hampton and CAD Manager Cody Ladd, the ZESCO team collaborated closely with architects, consultants, and construction partners to produce an efficient, flexible, and future-ready kitchen environment.

Project Overview

Journeyman Distillery’s goal was clear: design and install a commercial kitchen that could support multiple culinary concepts, streamline production, and operate with maximum efficiency — all while complementing the historic charm of the renovated facility.

This redesigned space needed to support:

• High-volume restaurant operations
• Event catering
• Distillery-adjacent food offerings
• A modern, open-kitchen aesthetic

Key Players

A Renovation for the Ages

Journeyman’s transformation is a remarkable story of adaptive reuse. The building — once quiet and understated — now serves as a dynamic culinary destination. With new event spaces, expanded dining, and improved outdoor connections, the site required a commercial kitchen capable of supporting evolving demands.

ZESCO’s design team worked to ensure the kitchen was not only state-of-the-art, but also integrated smoothly into the building’s architectural character.

 

Design Challenges & Solutions

Historic renovations bring a unique set of constraints:

• Irregular structural spacing
• Limited mechanical flexibility
• Varying floor elevations
• Existing utilities in unconventional locations

ZESCO’s design project management team tackled these challenges by:

• Developing precise CAD layouts to minimize construction conflicts
• Coordinating equipment ventilation and placement within architectural restrictions
• Ensuring traffic pathways aligned with service stations, expo lines, and storage zones
• Implementing workflow solutions that supported both high volume and specialty production

 

Kitchen Layout Strategy

The design focused on optimizing several core areas:

Production Flow: Multiple culinary concepts sharing common prep zones required careful sequencing of workstations to prevent bottlenecks.

Equipment Placement: Cooklines, refrigeration, and prep counters were positioned for intuitive, fast movement between stations.

Visibility and Guest Experience: Open-view kitchen lines were arranged to support theatrical cooking moments while keeping back-of-house operations efficient.

Safety & Code Compliance: Placement of hoods, gas lines, drainage, and electrical feeds was engineered to meet commercial standards without disrupting the historic structure.

 

Equipment Planning & Workflow Optimization

ZESCO’s expertise in kitchen design ensured that equipment selections matched menu needs, staff workflow, service volume, and Journeyman’s long-term operational goals.

Special attention was given to:

• Shared prep areas and multi-use workspaces
• High-efficiency cooking equipment
• Ventilation and hood integration
• Storage and refrigeration strategies
• Dish room design for rapid turnover

 

Project-Manager Insight

“A focus was placed on optimizing traffic flow across multiple concepts that utilize common food prep spaces.”
— Josh Hampton, Lead Project Manager, ZESCO Foodservice

 

Final Outcome & Impact

Through meticulous planning and strong coordination, the result is a state-of-the-art kitchen that supports Journeyman Distillery’s expansion and elevates their guest experience. The facility now boasts:

• A highly efficient production layout
• Equipment solutions tailored to multiple restaurant concepts
• Thoughtful integration with historic architecture
• Improved workflow that enhances staff performance and guest satisfaction

This project reflects the best of ZESCO’s approach: thoughtful design services, innovative kitchen design, and comprehensive design project management.

ZESCO is proud to have played a key role in transforming Journeyman Distillery into a culinary destination that honors the building’s heritage while supporting its future growth. If your next restaurant or hospitality project requires expert design guidance, our team is ready to help you bring your vision to life. Visit our Design Page to request a free consultation.