Weidmann's was opened in 1870 by Felix Weidmann, an immigrant from Zurich, Switzerland. Previously an ocean liner chef, Weidmann began the establishment as a restaurant-hotel called the European House. Weidmann was later involved in the hotel business, establishing the International Hotel on the corner of 22nd Avenue and Front Street in 1884. After Felix Weidmann's death in 1885, his son, Phillip Weidmann, took over. Phillip moved the restaurant to a location at the intersection of 24th Avenue and 5th Street and renamed it "Taft and Weidmann's". During World War I, the restaurant was moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for two years in order to better serve soldiers at Camp Shelby. The restaurant would also occupy a location on 5th Street before moving to its current (and original) location on 22nd Avenue in 1923. Henry Weidmann, Phillip's son, took over the establishment after Phillip's death in 1927.

In 1935 the celebration for Fred and Al Key's record-breaking endurance flight, which lasted 653 hours and 34 minutes and wasn't broken until 1973 by astronauts, was held at Weidmann's. Shorty McWilliams, husband of Gloria Weidmann, owned the store in 1955. Gloria Chancellor and her husband, great-great grandchildren of the founders, assumed ownership of the restaurant in 1989. Weidmann's would remain owned by someone in the Weidmann family until the 1990s.

The restaurant, which is the oldest in the state of Mississippi, became one of the most well-known restaurants in the state as well, famous for its black bottom pie, peanut butter crocks, and numerous pictures hanging on the walls. The restaurant's lunch counter has been in place since the business opened, and a "treasure chest" is filled with candy and other goodies given to reward children with good manners.


MENU: http://www.weidmanns1870.com/our-menus/lunch-menu/