Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods (colloquially known as Weaver D's) is a soul-food restaurant in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1986, replacing the former Riverside Cafe,[1] it came to international attention six years later when local band R.E.M. named its eighth studio album, Automatic for the People, after the phrase the restaurant's owner Dexter Weaver says to his customers instead of "you're welcome."[2][3][4] The restaurant is named Weaver D's as a throwback to Weaver's school days, when he was always at the end of the teacher's roll call.[1] It can seat 40 customers.[3] In 2007, the James Beard Foundation named it an American Classic, a designation given to small restaurants who provide "good, down-home food" and "unmatched hospitality."[5]
R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe, a regular customer at the restaurant, approached Weaver with Bertis Downs, the band's manager and attorney, to get permission to use the restaurant's slogan.[2][3]
"We had been burglarized the night before and had already been struggling. I wasn't the juvenated person I normally am when I sat down with them. At first I thought they were salesmen. When they introduced themselves and told me what they wanted, I began to smile."
The automatic for the people slogan was used later in 1992 by Al Gore during a presidential campaign in Athens.[3]
The star-shaped metal sculpture on the album's front cover, photographed by Anton Corbijn, was taken in Miami, but fans of the band came looking for it at the restaurant.[3]
At the height of its popularity the restaurant served around 300 lunches,[3] but it began to struggle financially from 2012,[5] battling against the possibility of foreclosure.[2] A worker came to shut off the restaurant's gas supply on September 28, but Weaver managed to defuse the situation.[6] Local residents rallied, donating money and bringing more customers to the restaurant.[2]
Another Athens band, the B-52s, are also fans of the restaurant. "I once sent food to them in Reno by FedEx," explained Weaver in 2003.[3]
Weaver was born in Athens in 1954 and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He returned to Athens in 1980.[1] In 1999, he released an autobiography–recipe book titled Automatic Y'all – Weaver D's Guide to the Soul.[3]
^"JOURNEYS; 36 Hours | Athens, Ga." – New York Times, May 10, 2002
^ ab"Weaver D’s courts closure, asks for community support" – Athens Banner-Herald, October 1, 2012
^"Automatic for the People" – Flagpole, October 10, 2012
External linksedit
A menu at Weaver D's
October 31, 2023
weaver, delicious, fine, foods, colloquially, known, weaver, soul, food, restaurant, athens, georgia, united, states, founded, 1986, replacing, former, riverside, cafe, came, international, attention, years, later, when, local, band, named, eighth, studio, alb. Weaver D s Delicious Fine Foods colloquially known as Weaver D s is a soul food restaurant in Athens Georgia United States Founded in 1986 replacing the former Riverside Cafe 1 it came to international attention six years later when local band R E M named its eighth studio album Automatic for the People after the phrase the restaurant s owner Dexter Weaver says to his customers instead of you re welcome 2 3 4 The restaurant is named Weaver D s as a throwback to Weaver s school days when he was always at the end of the teacher s roll call 1 It can seat 40 customers 3 In 2007 the James Beard Foundation named it an American Classic a designation given to small restaurants who provide good down home food and unmatched hospitality 5 Weaver D s Delicious Fine FoodsThe restaurant s sign in 2006Location within GeorgiaRestaurant informationEstablishedMay 1986 1986 Owner s Dexter Weaver original Food typeSoul foodDress codeCasualStreet address1016 East Broad StreetCityAthensCountyClarke CountyStateGeorgiaPostal ZIP Code30601CountryUnited StatesCoordinates33 57 31 N 83 22 02 W 33 958710 N 83 367324 W 33 958710 83 367324Seating capacity40Other informationAutomatic for the peopleR E M lead singer Michael Stipe a regular customer at the restaurant approached Weaver with Bertis Downs the band s manager and attorney to get permission to use the restaurant s slogan 2 3 We had been burglarized the night before and had already been struggling I wasn t the juvenated person I normally am when I sat down with them At first I thought they were salesmen When they introduced themselves and told me what they wanted I began to smile Dexter Weaver 2017 2 The automatic for the people slogan was used later in 1992 by Al Gore during a presidential campaign in Athens 3 The star shaped metal sculpture on the album s front cover photographed by Anton Corbijn was taken in Miami but fans of the band came looking for it at the restaurant 3 At the height of its popularity the restaurant served around 300 lunches 3 but it began to struggle financially from 2012 5 battling against the possibility of foreclosure 2 A worker came to shut off the restaurant s gas supply on September 28 but Weaver managed to defuse the situation 6 Local residents rallied donating money and bringing more customers to the restaurant 2 Another Athens band the B 52s are also fans of the restaurant I once sent food to them in Reno by FedEx explained Weaver in 2003 3 Weaver was born in Athens in 1954 and grew up in Baltimore Maryland He returned to Athens in 1980 1 In 1999 he released an autobiography recipe book titled Automatic Y all Weaver D s Guide to the Soul 3 References edit a b c Dexter Weaver Southern Foodways Alliance a b c d e Automatic for the People Weaver D s celebrates its 31st anniversary The Red and Black July 25 2017 a b c d e f g h Weaver D s finds its fame with soul food that rocks Los Angeles Times June 15 2003 JOURNEYS 36 Hours Athens Ga New York Times May 10 2002 a b Weaver D s courts closure asks for community support Athens Banner Herald October 1 2012 Automatic for the People Flagpole October 10 2012External links editA menu at Weaver D s Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Weaver D 27s Delicious Fine Foods amp oldid 1182101935, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
