As area residents celebrated Thanksgiving last week, many found one more thing to be thankful for – an announcement that the Southern Inn building will soon be under new ownership.
John Stallard, owner of CHEFS Catering Company, posted on the company’s Facebook page last week that he, along with Paige and Jay Williams and Leslie Giles, were under contract to purchase both the building that housed the Southern Inn and the neighboring Norgrove building.
“We have a shared vision of bringing back these properties in ways that honor their histories and our community,” Stallard wrote in the post. “Each of us will bring our expertise, passion, and dedication to the table to ensure that these storied buildings once again serve as beacons on Main Street. We are excited and, on this day, thankful for the possibilities these properties present and look forward to sharing our plans as they develop.”
More than 100 people had commented on the post as of Monday afternoon, all of them expressing congratulations or excitement about what may be coming. One poster called the announcement a “great Thanksgiving blessing,” with another adding “About dang time!” One person asked, “Does this mean a new, sit down have a great meal restaurant?” to which Stallard replied, “Yes indeed!” Stallard also replied to another commenter and assured them that “Mac and cheese will be on the menu.”
Stallard, when reached by The News-Gazette this week, did not elaborate further on the plans for the building.
The Southern Inn restaurant closed in July 2023 after more than 80 years of operation. George Huger, who had co-owned the restaurant for 25 years at that point, cited staffing issues and a desire to “want to slow down” as reasons for closing the restaurant to The News-Gazette at the time. Huger ran the restaurant out of the building on Main Street for most of his time as owner, except for a year following a fire in July 2010 which did substantial damage to the restaurant building and the Hallmark store next door.
Huger took over the restaurant in 1998. The building is owned by the family of the restaurant’s founder, Peter Macheras, who opened the restaurant in 1932 after emigrating from Greece. Macheras’ family ran the restaurant until 1989.
