By By William F. West / community editor
Jan. 14, 2003
Billy Camper was all smiles Monday as he talked about working at Weidmann's Square the refurbished and remodeled downtown restaurant that has been open since the weekend.
For generations, Weidmann's was part of the Southern landscape of down-home, family-owned restaurants.
The longtime, popular Meridian fixture was owned and managed by descendants of the Weidmann family from the day it opened in 1870 until the day it was sold.
Today, Weidmann's Square is owned by a group of about 60 local investors. Willie McGehee, along with a partner, Jackson restaurateur Nick Apostle, rent and operate the new Weidmann's.
After months of renovations, parts of the building gradually opened to the public.
The upstairs bar opened first, giving customers a chance to order a limited number of menu items. The restaurant followed over the weekend, giving patrons a choice from the entire menu.
Weidmann's has a 130-seat dining room downstairs, plus two upstairs dining rooms that can seat 103 and 48 each.
The restaurant is open Mondays through Saturdays and offers a long list of starters, pizzas, pastas, entrees and desserts.
The bar opens at 4 p.m. and the restaurant opens at 5:30 p.m. Dining hours are until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
But MeGehee said closing times remain at his discretion.
McGehee said he wants to have 80 to 100 employees, but that he only has about 30 now. He said that's because he has a selective hiring policy and an intensive training program.