New Albany Team

Matthew Weibel Executive Chef

Hudson 29 New Albany Executive Chef Matt Weibel has served in the restaurant industry for more than 10 years. He began his culinary career at the Columbus Culinary Institute where he earned a degree in culinary arts.

After graduating in March 2016, Chef Weibel joined the Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) team. He has served in various heart of the house positions, including The Guild House, The Avenue Grandview, Hudson 29 Upper Arlington, Cap City Fine Diner and Bar Gahanna and more.

Chef Weibel was part of the grand opening team at Hudson 29 New Albany, serving as sous chef most recently until being promoted to Executive Chef. His favorite part about working at Hudson 29 is the people, especially having the opportunity to learn from one another and getting to know what motivates his team members.

For aspiring chefs, Chef Weibel advises them to work hard and focus on the details, in addition to learning from others. “Everyone always knows something you don’t, or they have a better way of doing something you already know,” said Weibel.

Chef Weibel is open to trying anything new in terms of his culinary creations, although he always tends to go back to Mexican cooking. He is never without garlic, cilantro and sriracha in his kitchen. Recently, his friends and family have been loving his braised short rib and duck breast.

Chef Weibel lives in Gahanna with his wife, Katie. They enjoy trying new restaurants and going to baseball games and concerts together, especially when they can involve their dogs.

Nick Harness General Manager

As the General Manager of Hudson 29 New Albany, Nick Harness is just as passionate about his love of food as he is about building a strong team and creating meaningful experiences for Cameron Mitchell Restaurant’s (CMR) raving fans.

Harness began his hospitality career in 2009 at Dewey’s Pizza, where he worked his way up to become Assistant General Manager. In 2016, Harness joined the CMR team as dining room manager at Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern. He eventually advanced to general manager at the Rusty Bucket before joining the Hudson 29 team, bringing with him years of leadership experience and a skill for developing strong teams.

Throughout his career with the company, he has been recognized with several notable awards, including:

• Store of the Year 2023 (Rusty Bucket)
• General Manager of the Year 2024 (Rusty Bucket)
• Street Fighter Award 2025 (Rusty Bucket)

Harness is dedicated to professional growth and believes that a willingness to learn can have a lasting impact on a career in hospitality. His advice to those interested in the restaurant industry is simple: “Be comfortable making mistakes and learning from them.” He also believes in the importance of building strong connections with the people around you and allowing their guidance and experiences to help influence your decisions.

As he begins this next chapter with CMR, Harness is excited to embrace the company’s family atmosphere, build lasting relationships with his new team and continue growing alongside the restaurant group. And of course, he plans to enjoy more of his favorite CMR dish, the Braised Short Rib from Cameron’s American Bistro.

Outside of work, Harness enjoys spending time in Worthington with his wife, Kadie, and their children Brynn, Reese and Graham. When he’s not at Hudson 29, you can find him hiking, creating art, enjoying hockey and lacrosse and cheering on all things Ohio State Buckeyes.