It was December 13 in 1975 when we hung the wooden sign out front and waited to see if anyone
would walk through the door. The first day's sales totaled almost $200. It felt like a gazillion bucks.
A restaurant within the store was only the most remote of fantasies at that time. The original site of
A Southern Season was a tiny shop 800 sq. ft. in size on the far side of Eastgate Shopping Center. A
century-old gas-fired coffee roaster was the shop's hallmark and we carefully fired up the roaster on
a daily basis to bring Chapel Hill its first fresh-roasted coffees.
Within a year, the store had begun gathering a devoted clientele, and efforts to provide additional
food items requested by patrons began to create quite a crowded little space.
In late 1978, A Southern Season moved "across the parking lot" to the Eastgate location. The shop had
no signage, so we marked the entrance with a couple of tables and a few chairs out on the front deck.
As interior selling space gradually increased during the new few years, new product lines were added.
By late 1980, a small take-out kitchen and deli with an appealing menu had been created under the
talented guidance of Chapel Hill's beloved Caroll Kyser.
Customer requests for "somewhere to sit and eat" were becoming more prevalent. The tables outside the
front door were continually filled.
By late 1981, another expansion permitted creation of a small self-serve "cafe". It was not until 1984
that the store's popular little dining area offered wait service during normal store hours.
Yet another renovation was completed in 1992, permitting the establishment of the full service
restaurant and beautiful garden patio.
In 2003, we picked up everything and
moved to University Mall, just a mile down the road. You may not believe your
eyes when you see our new Weathervane. Our famous outdoor patio has gone
year-round, and we've added more spaces and garden settings for receptions,
parties, and meetings. We're also sporting a very cool coffee and wine bar, and
a cozy mezzanine level if you want to head upstairs to sit, sip and gaze out on
the scene below.
Weathervane's devoted staff and special setting within the convivial atmosphere of A Southern
Season have helped propel the restaurant to its acclaimed status. It is an integral partner in what has
become a one-of-a-kind marketplace that remains unique to Chapel Hill.
We all smile when folks notice that A Southern Season's weathervane has all its
arrows pointing south.
It's symbolic of traditions where service and hospitality hold honor and respect, and we hope that
those traditions are shared each time you choose to visit the store and the restaurant.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Weathervane. While A Southern Season's first day in
1975 seems like only yesterday, in many ways, I guess it's actually been a long time in the making.
Bon Appetit.
Michael Barefoot
