By Staff
NEW LOOK – Weidmann's Square General Manager Brian Kubicki, left, and Melissa Knight, director of sales and catering, stand in the newly completed main dining room. Photo by Carisa McCain/ The Meridian Star
By Penny Randall / staff writer
Sept. 30, 2002
The peanut butter jars that sat on each tabletop in Weidmann's will no longer occupy their old spots, but the heart of the 132-year-old restaurant still exists.
McGehee along with restaurateur Nick Apostle of Jackson are partners in the new restaurant renamed Weidmann's Square, which is continuing to undergo renovations.
The almost year-long renovations on the Meridian landmark were delayed when the restaurant was burglarized last week. Close to "six figures" worth of equipment, silver, electronics and crystal were taken from the building.
New atmosphere
The location of the front entrance to Weidmann's is not the only thing that has changed. Many who walk through the doors of restaurant will be shocked at the transformation.
The interior of the century-old restaurant has undergone a dramatic makeover. The modern sophisticated downstairs dinning room will now seat 130 people.
The open floor plan offers customers a view of the state-of-the-art kitchen and glass walled-in wine cellar.
The restaurants upstairs will house the bar, which overlooks 22nd Avenue, and a sitting area with sofas and chairs where patrons can enjoy a drink and read the newspaper. The restaurant's two banquet rooms are also upstairs.
Weidmann's menu is also being updated. The menu and wine list, featuring about 130 different wines, will change daily.
About the only things left from the original restaurant is a couple of light fixtures now hanging in the bar and many of the old photos that will adorn the wall near the entrance and upstairs bar.
Weidmann's was sold last October to a group of 50 local investors who joined together to put up $20 million to renovate the restaurant.